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(The following is a family devotional guide with suggested questions and scripture.)

Focus Scripture: However, the Lord hurled a great wind on the sea and there was a great storm on the sea, so that the ship was about to break up. Then the sailors became afraid and every man cried out to his god, and they hurled the cargo which was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone below into the stern of the ship, had laid down, and fallen sound asleep. So the captain approached him and said, “How is it that you are sleeping? Get up, call on your god! Perhaps your god will be concerned about us so that we will not perish.” And each man said to his mate, “Come, let’s cast lots so that we may find out on whose account this catastrophe has struck us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. Then they said to him, “Tell us, now! On whose account has this catastrophe struck us? What is your occupation, and where do you come from? What is your country, and from what people are you?” So he said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land.” Then the men became extremely afraid, and they said to him, “How could you do this?” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. So they said to him, “What should we do to you so that the sea will become calm for us?” – for the sea was becoming increasingly stormy. And he said to them, “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea. Then the sea will become calm for you, because I know that on account of me this great storm has come upon you.” However, the men rowed desperately to return to land, but they could not, because the sea was becoming even stormier against them. Then they cried out to the Lord and said, “We earnestly pray, O Lord, do not let us perish on account of this man’s life, and do not put innocent blood on us; for You, Lord, have done as You pleased.” So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea stopped its raging. Then the men became extremely afraid of the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows. And the Lord designated a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish for three days and three nights. – Jonah 1:4-17 (NASB)

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” – John 14:15 (NASB)

Jonah: A Man on the Run

In Jonah 1:4-17, Jonah was on the run! He was bound and determined to avoid doing what God asked him to do: preach repentance to Nineveh. Perhaps he thought, “I am not going to preach to a bunch of wicked people! They do not deserve God’s forgiveness – they deserve God’s punishment!” With this angry attitude, he hopped on a ship bound for Tarshish, the opposite way of Nineveh. Upon the ship, Jonah went to the bottom of the ship and fell into a deep sleep, hoping to forget about all this Nineveh business. He was unaware that God was about to get his attention in a big way.

A storm was brewing, and it wasn’t just Jonah’s stormy attitude. It was a supernatural storm that threatened to sink the ship. The sailors knew this storm was different and started asking around, trying to figure out the source of the storm, so they drew lots (or straws). The lot fell on a sleeping Jonah. After confronting Jonah about this mysterious storm, Jonah shared that his God is the god of the sea and that he was the cause of this storm. Then, Jonah said something the sailors thought was crazy: throw him overboard. He assured them that this would appease God and calm the sea; however, the sailors were scared! Even though they were pagans, they knew it was wrong. They didn’t want to offend God, but the storm wouldn’t let up, no matter what they did. So, they made a sacrifice and a vow to God hoping that He wouldn’t hold them responsible. With that, they threw Jonah overboard.

But, God wasn’t wanting Jonah to die. He wanted him to obey. So, He sent a big fish (probably a whale) to swallow him. For three days and three nights, he was inside the belly of this fish.

Plenty of time to think about what he had done…

We can run and hide all we want, but sooner or later, we have to face the music – or fish – in life.

Discussion Questions:

What makes you afraid? How do you deal with your fears?

What is the point of discipline? How do you know you made a bad decision? Talk about a time you had a consequence for a bad decision.

Have you ever had to take responsibility for an action of yours? Tell me about it.

What’s something you try to avoid doing or facing? How do you avoid it?

Would you rather get busted for doing wrong and face a severe consequence for it… or, get away with the long and live with any guilty feelings you may have?

Deeper Truth:

God desires our obedience. He wants a heart that loves him so much, it is willing to trust and obey Him…even when it’s hard. According to John 14:15, if we love God, we will obey Him. Our love prompts obedience in our lives.