Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.” So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three-day journey in extent. And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”

So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them.

Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. So he prayed to the Lord, and said, “Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm. Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!”

Then the Lord said, “Is it right for you to be angry?”

So Jonah went out of the city and sat on the east side of the city. There he made himself a shelter and sat under it in the shade, till he might see what would become of the city. And the Lord God prepared a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be shade for his head to deliver him from his misery. So Jonah was very grateful for the plant. But as morning dawned the next day God prepared a worm, and it so damaged the plant that it withered. And it happened, when the sun arose, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat on Jonah’s head, so that he grew faint. Then he wished death for himself, and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.”

Then God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?”

And he said, “It is right for me to be angry, even to death!”

But the Lord said, “You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night. And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left—and much livestock?”

—From Jonah 1:1–6, 11–17; 2:10; 3:1–5, 10; 4:1–11 (NKJV)

Reflection

We live in a divided world, which becomes more divided with every unfriend or toxic comment. Metaphorically, we’re more and more treating our “enemies” like the Assyrian’s treated theirs. Are we like Jonah? Do we forget that the meme that so offends us was posted by another human being? A person crafted by God, in his image? We forget that God cares about them every bit as much as he cares about us. He longs to give them—no, not our political or social message—but his message of Grace through Christ. Reflect on how you can embody God’s message everywhere and to every person today.

Celebrate Together

Gather the family for today’s Celebration in our book, The Joy of Advent. Wonder at the glimmer of Christ in a worm, explore the Jesse Tree symbol of a big fish, discover the history behind today’s carol, and enjoy a family conversation (or private journaling) about who deserves God’s blessing.

Inspiration

Music

Reflect as you enjoy The Wexford Carol that God’s love extends to all. [Play Video]

Let the children’s song, What Can I Give Him focus our hearts on the sacrifice Jonah missed. [Play Video]

Visit our Joy of Advent YouTube playlist for featured videos, our Ultimate Christmas playlist for all our favorite carols, or our sing-along carols to enjoy karaoke style.

Prayer

Come and show your people the way to salvation. Protect, O Lord, Thy suppliants, support their weakness, and wash away their earthly stains; and while they walk amid the darkness of this mortal life, do Thou ever quicken them by Thy light; deliver them in Thy mercy from all evils, and grant them to attain the height of good: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Ancient Collects, and Other Prayers, William Bright, 1902)

Resources

• For a family Movie Night, try the Veggie Tales feature, Jonah.

• Could Jonah have survived? Some commentators say he died and was brought back to life, but others believe that may not have been necessary.

• Did you know that Jonah’s prayer is read on the afternoon of Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar? Read more about Jonah’s prayer here.

• Enjoy a printable coloring page of Jonah and the Whale.

• Would you like to make Jesse Tree ornaments to accompany your readings? Find tutorials and ideas from simple to advanced at our Jesse Tree Ornaments Pinterest board.

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