The people of Nineveh were very mean and selfish. They wanted to own everything in the whole world. Everyone was afraid of them and their big army. One day God told His prophet Jonah to go and warn the people of Nineveh to stop being so mean and selfish or God would destroy their city. But Jonah didn’t want to do that, so he disobeyed and ran away and tried to hide from God. He ran down to the sea and boarded a ship that was going far, far away from Nineveh, and away from God too, he thought. Jonah was in for a big surprise.
The Lord said, "Go, go, Jonah,
Go to the city of Nineveh.”
The Lord said, "Go, go, Jonah,
Go to the city of Nineveh
And tell them, tell them
I'm going to punish them for their sins.
Tell them, tell them,
I'm going to punish them for their sins.”
But Jonah went, went away,
Went away from the Lord's command.
Jonah went, went away,
Went away from the Lord's command.
Went far away.
He went away in a boat.
Went far away.
He went away in a boat.
Jonah fell into the sea;
A big fish came and swallowed him up.
Jonah fell into the sea;
A big fish came and swallowed him up.
In the fish Jonah stayed
Three nights and three days.
In the fish Jonah stayed
Three nights and three days.
The big fish opened up its mouth;
Jonah, he went running out.
The big fish opened up his mouth;
Jonah, he went running out
And went on God's way,
And he preached to Nineveh night and day.
And went on God's way,
And he preached to Nineveh night and day.
Go on God's way.
You'll be happy if you obey.
Go on God's way.
You'll be happy if you obey.
You can learn more about Jonah and the city of Nineveh with this lesson plan: “The City of Nineveh.”
Taken from the album Great Adventures 2. Music and lyrics by Cathy Gehr. Produced by Allan Pratt.
Copyright © 1996 by Aurora Production AG. Used by permission.