In episode 218, “Jonah and the Big Fish”, Brooke & Faren discuss the meaning of Jonah 3:10 when the Ninevites repent to God. Hear how this Bible story helps us learn to get out of our comfort zones and gain accountability with what God is calling us to do. We use our © Read Pray Talk Tell Method to discover ways we can practically live this scripture out in everyday life. The Kid Classics mini series begins on episode 209 and goes through episode 218 of the Witty & Gritty podcast.
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Read About Change of Heart
Have you been following along with us for our Kid Classics mini series? If not, head to episode 209 of the Witty & Gritty podcast and catch back up here for our “Jonah and the Big Fish” episode. As always, we encourage you to read the Biblical text and tune into the episode, so keep in mind that the book of Jonah is only four chapters long.
Here are the quick “Brooke Notes” version of catching us up all the way to the point of the verse we discuss in our “Jonah and the Big Fish” episode:
- God tells Jonah to bring judgement news to the Ninevites
- Jonah does the exact opposite and flees by boat
- There’s a storm, the guys roll the dice to see who the guilty party is
- It’s Jonah! Jonah would rather die than go to Nineveh
- So, they throw him overboard
- Big fish swallows (but doesn’t eat) Jonah (still hoping to die)
- Jonah gets vomited out onto the shore of…Nineveh!
Jonah finally does what God told him to do. He tells the Ninevites that judgement is coming, and they did exactly what Jonah wasn’t wanting. They repent and cry out to God! Yes, it’s twisted and wrong of Jonah (we address that in the episode). This is where we come to in our verse for the week:
“When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.”
Jonah 3:10
Pray for a Change in Heart
Let’s shift our focus off of Jonah and onto the people of Nineveh. It looks like a pretty clear picture of repenting. When we go back and look at the scripture, we can see that they stop the wrongdoing, cried out to God, and changed their ways to follow Him. Take a moment to pause and ask God if there is a heart change or shift that needs to take place in your life.
Now, back to Jonah for a moment. We can see from the whole book that Jonah is a guy who really likes comfort. He even tries to run away from God because God was asking him to go out of his comfort zone to help others. Take a moment to reflect and pray about ways to get out of your comfort zone to spread the Gospel. Ask God to reveal to you areas that you are valuing more than His directions for you.
Talk About Godly Boundaries
We touch on how your Biblical community can help you in a variety of ways based on the different people throughout the Jonah and the Big Fish story. For example, you need the friends who will throw you overboard when you need a wake up call. No, not literally put you in harm’s way, but essentially dump a bucket of ice water o you when you need a hard reset.
As Christians, we know that accountability is essential to growing our faith and becoming more like Jesus every day. Having Godly friends and Godly boundaries in place will help keep you from falling off the rails (like Jonah). We don’t want to live life in a bitter or fearful way. Keeping friends close who can help you zoom out and see God moving can help you in times where you are feeling negatively about God’s commands.
Tell About Following Holy Directions
Everyone goes through learning stages, so it’s no surprise as our kids grow at rapid rates, all while trying to learn how to navigate life (sports, school, friends, etc…). Like Jonah, there will be times God gives our children direction. This can be through the Holy Spirit directly speaking to them, or it can look like a solid Christian influence on their life (parents, coaches, youth ministers).
Here’s the thing with humans regardless of age; they may not want to do what is God’s direction. Shocker, we know. Once we can teach our kids the story of Jonah, walk them through God’s best plans, we can eventually move to using lines like “Don’t be a Jonah.” in everyday life. We can help normalize following God’s directions by telling them how we navigate it in real time.
We hope you enjoyed episode 218, “Jonah and the Big Fish”, through our © Read Pray Talk Tell Method. Now it’s up to you to work through the Bible chapter discussed, pray about this verse using the prompts given, have biblical community around this verse, and go point others to Christ with the tips we give. Remember, when you read, pray, talk, tell consistently, you’ll grow your faith in God more deeply. Tune in next week to hear another breakdown of a Bible verse!
Links From the Show
