Jonah and the Big Fish: A Reluctant Prophet’s Second Chance

Are you looking for an engaging Bible story for kids that teaches valuable lessons about obedience to the Word of God? The famous Bible story of Jonah and the big fish is one of the most beloved Sunday school lessons for toddlers and preschoolers alike. 

Found in the Old Testament book of Jonah chapters 1 to 3, this scriptural account tells the true story of a reluctant prophet who tried to run from the Lord, only to experience God’s incredible mercy, forgiveness, and a second chance.

Perfect for children aged 3 years and over, this simplified, accurate retelling brings ancient history to life. Children will discover fascinating biblical facts, including the modern name of Nineveh (located in present-day Iraq), how far Jonah traveled from Israel, and the truth about the whale vs. big fish translation. 

Read on to share this powerful, action-packed Jonah bible story for toddlers that inspires children to listen, repent, and obey the word of God.

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Jonah and the big fish bible verses audio version

🦈Jonah and the Big Fish: A Reluctant Prophet’s Second Chance

Long ago, God spoke to a prophet named Jonah. God gave him a very important job. He wanted Jonah to go to a huge city called Nineveh.

👉 Facts about Nineveh:

• It was located far away, about 500 miles northeast of Israel. 
• Would have taken Jonah about 25 to 33 days of continuous foot travel to get there from Israel. 
• It was a very great city, and it took three days' to go through it.(Jonah 3:3). 
• Nineveh was inhabited by 120,000 persons.
• It was the capital of the ancient and powerful kingdom of Assyria.
• The city was ruled by a king.

👉 Nineveh in 2026 

• Ninevah no longer exists in its former glory.
•  It is now in ruins. 
• The remains of the city can be found in modern day Iraq, on the east of an Iraqi city called Mosul.  

👉Facts about Mosul. It is:

• located in north Iraq.
• on the banks of the Tigris river.
• the capital of Nineveh Governorate, 
• the second largest city in Iraq overall after the capital Baghdad.
• The site of the ruins of the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh, once the largest city in the world.
• The ruins of ancient Nineveh are located on the east side of Mosul.

The reconstructed Mashki Gate of Nineveh

Why did God send Jonah to Ninevah?

Sixscore thousand persons lived in Nineveh. That is 120,000 (one hundred and twenty thousand) people. It was a great city, but  the people in Nineveh were doing bad things. God wanted Jonah to tell them to stop. But Jonah did not want to go. He was afraid and angry. So, Jonah tried to hide from God.

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Jonah Runs Away

Instead of walking northeast to Nineveh, Jonah ran the exact opposite way. He went down to the ocean and paid for a seat on a ship sailing to Tarshish. 

Jonah thought he could escape from God. But God is everywhere.

While the ship was out on the deep blue sea, God sent a huge storm. The wind blew fiercely. The waves crashed hard. The ship was tossing and turning. The sailors were terrified! They started throwing boxes into the ocean to make the ship lighter.

Where was Jonah? He was fast asleep downstairs in the boat. The captain woke him up and said, "How can you sleep? Pray to your God to save us!"

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The Sailors Threw Jonah Into the Deep Sea

The sailors realized the storm was Jonah's fault. Jonah told them the truth: "I am running away from the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land."

Jonah knew he had done wrong. He told the sailors, "Pick me up and throw me into the sea. Then the ocean will become calm."

The sailors did not want to do it, but the storm grew even worse. Finally, they prayed to God, picked up Jonah, and threw him into the splashing water.

Splash!

As soon as Jonah hit the water, the wind stopped blowing. The sea became perfectly quiet and still. The sailors were amazed and praised the true God.

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Jonah Inside the Big Fish

Jonah began to sink down, down, down into the dark ocean. But God did not leave Jonah. God sent a huge fish to save him.

Gulp!

The big fish swallowed Jonah whole! Jonah was inside the belly of the fish for three days and three nights. 

Jonah felt as if he was in the depths of hell and he prayed to God. 

Inside the dark, smelly fish, Jonah had a lot of time to think. He knew he had disobeyed. Jonah prayed to God from inside the fish. He thanked God for saving his life and promised to obey Him.

God heard Jonah’s prayer. He commanded the giant fish to swim to the shore.

Bleah!

The fish spit Jonah out safely onto the dry sand.

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God Gave Jonah A Second Chance

Now, Jonah was back on dry land. God spoke to Jonah a second time. God said the exact same thing: "Go to Nineveh and preach my message."

This time, Jonah did not run away. He walked all the way to Nineveh. It was a massive city. Jonah walked through the streets and shouted God's warning: "In forty days, Nineveh will be destroyed!"

The people of Nineveh listened to Jonah. They believed God's warning. The king and all the people stopped doing bad things. They wore rough clothes called sackcloth and prayed to God for forgiveness.

God saw that they were truly sorry. Because God is loving and merciful, He forgave them and did not destroy their city. Jonah learned that God gives second chances when we repent and obey.

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Choose to Obey God Today!

Jonah tried to run away, but he learned that we can never hide from God. God's ways are always best. When we obey God, we show Him that we love Him and trust His plan for our lives.

Are you ready to listen to God? Choose to obey the word of God today with a happy heart! Talk to your parents or teachers about how you can follow God's instructions every single day.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About The Story Of Jonah

Where is Nineveh located today?

The ancient city of Nineveh is located in modern-day Mosul, Iraq. It sits across the Tigris River from the modern city center.

How far did Jonah have to travel?

Nineveh was about 500 miles northeast of the land of Israel. Walking this distance in Jonah's time could have taken  approximately 25 to 33 days of continuous foot travel. 

What kind of fish swallowed Jonah?

The Bible does not say it was a whale. The original Hebrew text uses the phrase dag gadol, which translates directly to "big fish" or "huge fish."

Why did Jonah run away?

Jonah knew that God is very merciful. He did not like the people of Nineveh because they were enemies of Israel, and he did not want them to receive God's forgiveness.

References

Free Bible Images. (2026). Jonah. Retrieved from https://www.freebibleimages.org/illustrations/jonah-preschool/

Holy Bible, English Standard Version. (2001). Crossway Bibles. (Original work published 2001). Jonah 1–3.

Wikipedia. (2026). Mosul. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosul

Wikipedia. (202). Nineveh. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nineveh

The Story of the Seven Days of Creation for Children

Discover the amazing story of how God made our beautiful world in seven days! Written perfectly for young children using the true actions of Genesis 1, this story helps families explore the wonders of the earth, the sky, the animals, and us.

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Introduction: The Beginning of All Things

Have you ever wondered where everything comes from? Where did the bright sun, the deep blue sea, and the fluffy green grass come from?

In the beginning, before anything we see was made, there was nothing. There was only darkness and water, and the world was completely empty. But God was there. The Spirit of God moved over the face of the waters, peaceful and powerful. How would God change this empty darkness into a beautiful home? He did it by speaking! 

Let us discover the true story of how God spoke everything into being over seven special days.

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The Masterpiece of Creation: Day by Day

Day 1: Light Out of Darkness

+-------------------------------------------------------+

|                       DAY 1                           |
|                  LIGHT & DARKNESS                     |
|                                                       |
|        "Let there be light!" --> [ Bright Light ]     |
|                                                       |
|        God called the Light: DAY                      |
|        God called the Darkness: NIGHT                 |
+-------------------------------------------------------+

The world was dark, like a bedroom when the lights are turned off at bedtime. Then, God spoke. He said, “Let there be light!” Do you know what happened the very moment He spoke? Light instantly burst forth, filling the empty space with brightness! 

God looked at the light, and He saw that it was good. So, God separated the bright light from the dark room of the world. He gave them special names, just like parents name their children. He called the light "Day," and He called the darkness "Night." 

Day 1 was a 24 hour cycle made up of daylight hours (day) and darkness (night).

Day 2: The Sky Above

On the second day, God looked at the deep waters covering everything. He spoke again to make a safe space for us to breathe. God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.”

What does that mean? God created a giant, beautiful blue curtain called the sky! He placed some of the water up high in the fluffy clouds, and He kept some of the water down low on the ground. God called this grand space "Heaven." 

Day 2 was another  24 hour cycle made up of daylight hours (day) and darkness (night).

Day 3: Dry Land and Green Plants

+-------------------------------------------------------+

|                       DAY 3                           |
|                   LAND & PLANTS                       |
|                                                       |
|      [ Seas / Oceans ]   <-->   [ Dry Ground / Soil ] |
|                                   |                   |
|                                   v                   |
|                        * Grass, Plants, Trees *       |
+-------------------------------------------------------+

When we look outside, we see dirt to dig in and trees to climb. But on the morning of the third day, the ground was still hidden under the water! God commanded, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it happened just like that!

The waters rushed together to form great seas, and dry, brown earth rose up. God called the dry land "Earth," and the gathered waters He called "Seas." God saw that it was good.

But the earth was still bare. So God spoke again: “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit.”

Suddenly, green grass blanketed the hills! Bright flowers opened their petals, and big fruit trees grew sweet apples and figs. Each plant carried its own tiny seeds so more plants could grow later, providing food for families to harvest and eat. God saw that it was good.

Day 3 was yet another  24 hour cycle made up of daylight hours (day) and darkness (night).

Day 4: Sun, Moon, and Stars

On the fourth day, God decided to decorate the sky He made on Day 2. Why did He do this? He did it to help us track our times, our days, and our yearly seasons!

God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night.” He made two great lights. He made the bright sun to rule over the daytime, warming the earth while families worked and walked. 

He made the softer moon to rule over the quiet night, giving a gentle glow while children slept. He made the tiny, twinkling stars too, scattering them across the dark sky like glittering sand. God saw that it was good.

Day 4  was a 24 hour cycle made up of daylight hours (day) and darkness (night).

Day 5: Fish and Birds

+-------------------------------------------------------+

|                       DAY 5                           |
|                   FISH & BIRDS                        |
|                                                       |
|        Sky Above:  [ Soaring Birds / Eagles ]         |
|                                                       |
|        Seas Below: [ Swimming Fish / Whales ]         |
+-------------------------------------------------------+

The sky was quiet, and the oceans were completely still. So on the fifth day, God filled them with life! He said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth.”

Suddenly, splash! Big whales, tiny silver fish, and colorful sea creatures started swimming through the deep oceans. Up above, chirp! Feathered birds of every shape and color spread their wings and soared through the open sky. God looked at them, smiled, and blessed them. He told the fish to fill the seas and the birds to multiply across the earth.

Day 5 was the fifth 24 hour cycle made up of daylight hours (day) and darkness (night).

Day 6: Land Animals and People

On the sixth day, God filled the dry land. He said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds.” Out of the fields came walking cows, creeping lizards, jumping rabbits, and roaring lions! God saw that it was good.

But God's special masterpiece was still missing. We need someone to care for this beautiful world! So God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.”

God created human beings—both man and woman. He made them special, reflecting His own love and creativity. He blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it." 

He gave them the job of caring for the fish, the birds, the animals, and all the green plants. God looked at everything He had made, from the giant sun to the smallest bug, and saw that it was very good! 

Day 6 was a 24 hour cycle made up of daylight hours (day) and darkness (night).

.

Day 7: The Day of Rest

+-------------------------------------------------------+

|                       DAY 7                           |
|                   THE DAY OF REST                     |
|                                                       |
|           Creation Work is Finished!                  |
|           God Rests, Blesses, and Holies the Day      |
+-------------------------------------------------------+

By the seventh day, God finished all His grand work. The universe was perfectly complete. What did God do next? Did He keep making more things? No, He stopped! 

God rested on the seventh day from all the work He had done. He blessed the seventh day and made it holy. This was His way of showing us that resting, thanking Him, and enjoying His beautiful world is a wonderful thing to do.

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Conclusion: Our Beautiful World

God spoke, and His powerful words made a perfect home for us! Every plant, animal, and person is a part of God's wonderful design. When we look outside at the blue sky, listen to the singing birds, or rest with our families at night, we can remember the seven days of creation and thank God for making it all.

Are you ready to explore God's creation today? Go outside with a parent, point to three things God made on the six days of creation, and thank Him for His wonderful design!

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Frequently Asked Questions About God's Seven Days of Creation (FAQ)

What did God make on the first day?

God created light and separated it from the darkness, creating "Day" and "Night."

Why did God rest on the seventh day?

God rested to show us that His creation was completely finished and perfect. He set aside a day for humans to rest and worship and thank Him for His goodness.

How did God create everything?

God created the world simply by speaking His powerful words. He commanded things to exist, and they appeared.

Who was given the job to take care of everything?

God created human beings in His own image on the sixth day. He gave them the responsibility to look after the earth and all its living creatures.

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REFERENCES

Bergsma, J., & Pitre, B. (2018). A Catholic introduction to the Bible: The Old Testament. Ignatius Press.

BibleProject. (2020, November 24). Genesis 1 - Understand God's creation story [Video]. YouTube. https://bibleproject.com/videos/genesis-1/

Matthews, K. A. (1996). The New American Commentary: Genesis 1-11:26 (Vol. 1A). B&H Publishing Group.

Sailhamer, J. H. (1992). The Pentateuch as narrative: A biblical-theological commentary. Zondervan.

Walton, J. H. (2009). The lost world of Genesis one: Ancient cosmology and the origins debate. IVP Academic.

👑Queen Esther's Brave Prayer: How God Rescued His People

Meta Description: 

Read the biblical story of Queen Esther for children aged 3 and up. Learn how she relied on prayer, fasting, and family to save her people in ancient Persia.

The Beautiful Palace and a Big Secret

Long ago, in a grand city called Susa (modern day Iran), a great king named Ahasuerus ruled over the massive Persian Empire. He lived in a giant palace filled with colorful courtyards, stone pillars, and beautiful gardens. In this city, families lived in simple mud-brick houses, where children played while parents baked flatbread over small clay ovens and wove wool into clothing.

A young Jewish orphan girl named Esther  also lived in Susa with her cousin Mordecai, who raised her as his own daughter after her parents died. In their culture, family structures meant everything; family members took care of one another and stayed loyal. Mordecai worked daily sitting near the king’s stone gate, keeping a watchful eye on the city.

When the king looked for a new queen, he chose Esther because of her grace and beauty. But Mordecai gave her a strict rule: "Do not tell anyone that you are Jewish." Esther listened to her older cousin and kept her family identity a secret inside the royal palace.

How do you think it felt for Esther to live in a giant palace while keeping a big secret?

A Sad Decree and Rough Sackcloth

One day, a terrible problem arose. A proud official named Haman grew angry because Mordecai refused to bow down to him.

 To punish Mordecai, Haman tricked the king into signing a strict law to destroy all Jewish people in the land.

When Mordecai heard the awful news, he wept loudly. He followed an ancient cultural custom to show deep sadness and humility: he tore his clothes and put on rough, itchy sackcloth and ashes. Have you ever felt clothes that scratch your skin? That is what sackcloth felt like! He sat in the dust outside the king's gate.

Esther 4: 1-3

1 When Mordecai learned all that had been done, 🧠📜 Mordecai tore his clothes 👕💥 and put on sackcloth and ashes, 🪵🌪️ and went out into the midst of the city, 🏙️🚶‍♂️ and he cried out with a loud and bitter cry. 🗣️😫

2 He went up to the entrance of the king's gate, 🏰🚪 for no one was allowed to enter the king's gate clothed in sackcloth. 🙅‍♂️🚫

3 And in every province, wherever the king's command and his decree reached, 🗺️📜 there was great mourning among the Jews, 👥😭 with fasting and weeping and lamenting, 🍽️❌🏼 wailing aloud, and many of them lay in sackcloth and ashes. 🪵🪦

Esther became concerned about Mordecai

Inside the palace, Queen Esther felt deeply worried. She sent clean clothes out to Mordecai, but he refused them. She then sent a trusted servant named Hathach to ask him why he was so sad.

Esther 4: 4&5

4. When Esther's young women and her eunuchs came and told her, 👑👩‍🦰👨‍💼 the queen was deeply distressed. 😰💔 She sent garments to clothe Mordecai, 👕🎁 so that he might take off his sackcloth, 🪵🧥 but he would not accept them. 🙅‍♂️❌

5 Then Esther called for Hathach, 👑🗣️ one of the king's eunuchs, who had been appointed to attend her, 👨‍💼🛡️ and ordered him to go to Mordecai 🚶‍♂️💨 to learn what this was and why it was. 🧐❓

Mordecai sent a message back to Esther through the servant: "You must go to the king and beg for mercy for your people!"

But Esther faced a terrifying rule. In ancient Persia, anyone who walked into the king's inner court without being called would be put to death immediately, unless the king held out his golden scepter to save them. The king had not called Esther for thirty days!

Mordecai sent back a powerful reminder: "Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape... And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?"

The Three-Day Fast and Brave Prayer

Esther knew she needed God's help. She decided to rely completely on prayer and the shared beliefs of her community. She sent a direct command back to Mordecai:

Esther 4:16 (NIV):

"Go, gather together all the Jews who are present in Susa, 👥🏙️ and fast for me. 🧎‍♀️🏼 Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. 🍽️❌🍷 I and my attendants will fast as you do. 👑👩‍🦰 When this is done, I will go to the king, 🚶‍♂️🏰 even though it is against the law. 📜🚫 And if I perish, I perish." 🪵🪦 

 

For three long days and nights, nobody in the Jewish community ate food or drank water. Instead, they focused entirely on praying to God for protection. Esther and her young palace maids prayed together too. They turned away from the fancy royal foods to show God that they trusted Him completely to rescue them.

After three days of prayer, Esther put on her royal robes, stepped out of her room, and walked bravely into the king's court. When the king saw her standing there, God changed his heart to show kindness. The king held out his golden scepter, and Esther went forward to touch the top of it, saving her life and paving the way to rescue all her people:

Esther 5: 1 - 

1 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes 👑👗 and stood in the inner court of the king's palace, 🏰🚶‍♀️ in front of the king's quarters, while the king was sitting on his royal throne 👑🪑 inside the throne room opposite the entrance to the palace. 🏛️🚪

2 And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, 👀👑 she won favor in his sight, ✨❤️ and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. 👑👑 Then Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. 🚶‍♀️

👉 3 And the king said to her, “What is it, Queen Esther? 👑❓ What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of my kingdom.” 🗺️🎁

4 And Esther said, “If it please the king, 👑🙇‍♀️ let the king and Haman come today to a feast 🍽️🍷 that I have prepared for the king.” 

5 Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, 🏃‍♂️💨 so that we may do as Esther has asked.” So the king and Haman came to the feast 🍷🍗 that Esther had prepared.

Conclusion

The story of Esther shows that even when situations look scary, we can stop, pray, and ask for help. God placed Esther exactly where she needed to be to help her family and community. You can be brave and pray for others too, knowing that God hears your voice!

FAQ

Why did Mordecai wear scratchy sackcloth and ashes?

In ancient times, wearing rough sackcloth and putting ashes on your head was a special custom. It showed God and other people that you were very sad, humble, and asking for special help.

What does it mean to fast?

Fasting means stopping yourself from eating food or drinking for a some time. People do this so they can focus all their thoughts, time, and energy on praying and talking to God.

How old do you have to be to pray like Esther?

You can pray at any age! Even though Esther was a queen, God listens to the prayers of little children just as much as He listens to kings and queens.

Share Your Thoughts!

Did you enjoy learning about Queen Esther's bravery? Talk with your parents or teachers about a time you needed to be brave, and then share your stories with us in the comments section below!

REFERENCES

Bible Gateway. (n.d.). Esther 4 (New International Version). https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther%204&version=NIV

BibleProject. (2016). Book of Esther summary [Video]. YouTube. youtube.com

Sefaria Library. (n.d.). Legends of the Jews 4:12:21. https://www.sefaria.org/Legends_of_the_Jews.4.12.21

Thriving Spirit. (2022, July 7). The sackcloth project: Reviving an ancient practice. https://www.thrivingspirit.org/blog-1/2022/7/7/the-sackcloth-project

All images from Free Bible Images