A Second Chance

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Jonah 1:17 and 2:1-10

TO CHEW ON: " He said:

“In my distress I called to the Lord,
    and he answered me.
From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help,
    and you listened to my cry.' " Jonah 2:2

When the sailors tossed Jonah overboard I’m sure he expected to drown. But that didn’t happen. Instead he was swallowed by a huge fish.



Imagine getting swept into that big mouth and then into the fish’s insides. Imagine Jonah telling you about it. Finish each of his statements.

Inside the fish it smelled __________, it felt ________________ , I saw ______________.

The three days Jonah spent inside the fish gave him lots of time to think. Then he prayed. Read his prayer (Jonah 2:1-9) then circle the words that tell how he felt:

Thankful   Glad to be alive   Grouchy

Ready to obey    Angry

After three days and nights the fish vomited Jonah onto the land.

Jonah knew that he deserved to drown because he was running away from God. But God didn’t give him what he deserved. Instead, God gave Jonah a second chance. Do you think Jonah would say ‘yes’ to God if God asked him to do something again?

God often gives us second chances too - and third and fourth and fifth. But let’s not count on that. Instead, let’s obey God the first time He asks us to do something.

PRAYER: Dear God, thank You for being a God of second chances. Amen.



MORE: Big Fish
Although we don’t know what kind of fish swallowed Jonah, we do know the biggest sea creature alive on earth now is the blue whale.
Using books and/or the internet, find out:
- How big are blue whales?
- What do they eat?
- Where do they live?
- Would a blue whale be big enough to swallow a man?

ANSWERS

*************
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Adult readers - DAILY DEVOTIONS FOR ADULTS  are available too at Other Food: daily devo's.