God's Messenger
God's people were living far from their home. The promised land was destroyed. Where was God in all of this?
God was with them. The story of Daniel showed them that they could be true to God, even when everyone around them didn't care about God at all! And God promised to be their Temple, after the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed.
Even though it was hard, God's people could see that God was doing amazing things for them. And a story from the past would show them how to treat the enemies that lived, well, even next door sometimes!
As God continued to do amazing things, He proved the He is worth following: NO MATTER WHAT!
Intro
The people of God could look back on an amazing true story to show them how to treat their enemies while in exile.
Watch Today's Lesson: "God's Messenger"
God is eager to forgive!
Read the Story for Yourself!
Jonah 3-4
Take a sec to read the story directly from God's Word! You can find it in Jonah 3-4.
A great way to read it is in the International Children's BIble (ICB) translation. It's a simple and accurate Bible translation designed for kids. Adults, like me, like it too!
Click here to read Jonah 3-4 in the ICB on Bible Gateway.
Click here to buy the same ICB Prayer Bible that I use to prep for lessons!
QUIZ TIME!
Extra Time
Jonah became God's reluctant messenger to the enemies of the people of Israel.
Verse for the Week
"Salvation comes from the Lord."
Jonah 2:9
Sample Prayer
Father God, you are eager to forgive. You made it possible for people to be forgiven through Jesus. Help me to share that good news!
AMEN
Review Activity
Click the button below to access the review activity for this week's lesson. It might be a good idea to print this out and complete it mid-week to help remember the lesson!
God is eager to forgive!
Jonah knew that God was not like him. Jonah was quick to be angry and slow to forgive. But God had sent Jonah to Nineveh so that the people there could be forgiven, if they would just turn from their sin!
Some years after, the Assyrians destroyed the northern kingdom, because the northern kingdom would NOT turn from their sin.
Still, God was working on a rescue plan that made possible an amazing forgiveness. This rescue plan would allow messengers to go to all the cities and all the nations. Good news was coming of a forgiveness of sins that would last forever!
Nothing shows that God is eager to forgive more than His rescue plan in sending Jesus. Jesus took the punishment for sin in our place, so that we can be forgiven!