Go Jonah

Artwork: Beacon Hill School Pupils

 Jonah was the most ‘mixed up’ of all the prophets.

He worried about what people thought of him, and he was quick tempered. 

He often put himself first before his obedience to God.

He was given a special task to do; to preach words of repentance to the people of Nineveh, but he ran away to sea instead, and ended up being swallowed by a whale. 

Jonah was there for three nights and days, praying to God, and eventually the whale spat him onto the shore. 

So Jonah decided to go and preach to the people of Nineveh after all, and when they took his words to heart, and turned to God, he was angry. 

He didn’t want God to show mercy to Gentiles (non-Jews) as well as Jews.

       Why not try and make your own computer filmstrip, or video to this song?

       Imagine you are Jonah writing all your adventures in your diary. It could contain imaginary dates, instructions from God, complaints, appointments.

      Or try to make a three dimensional seascape of this story complete with ship and sailors made out of clothes pegs. 

Act out the story, with sound effects.

47 Go Jonah: Jonah Chapters 1 - 4

(to the tune ‘Six Little Ducks’)

God spoke to Jonah, and he said , “Up!

Go down to Nineveh, they’re corrupt!”

But Jonah had a ‘mind block’ with the word ‘obey’

didn’t want to go, and so he ran away, he ran away.

Off he sailed, to Tarshish in a boat.

Wibble wobble, wibble wobble, would it stay afloat?

Then an angry storm broke out upon the sea,

which put all those aboard in jeo-par-dy, in jeopardy.

The sailors said, “Oh let us all draw lots,

see who’s responsible, the boat’s awash!”

So they all drew lots, and put it to the test.

The lot fell to Jonah, and he confessed, he confessed.

Over the side did Jonah go.

Wibble wobble, wibble wobble, down below.

Then a whale came by and swallowed him whole.

Poor old Jonah, poor-old-soul, poor old soul!

He was there three nights, three days,

so he prayed to mend his ways.

So when the whale spat him upon the shore,

off to Nineveh he did go, he did go.

So he preached to the people there,

they wibble wobbled, full of trouble, everywhere.

But they did repent and Jonah took the huff;

left the city he had had enough, had enough.

A castor-oil plant grew over him,

protected him when he felt grim.

But it withered away which made poor Jonah mad,

God feels the same, when we are bad, when we are bad.

© words Sheila Hamil 2011

www.sheilahamil.co.uk