Bible Blossom - Storyteller's Handbook

T HE E X I L E • 109

Theme

The Lord will accept anyone who repents and turns to him in faith, he desires that none should perish.

Setting

• Joppa • A ship to Tarshish • Nineveh

• The Lord • Jonah • The sailors • The Ninevites

Major Characters

Plot

Introduction and Rising Action 1. The Lord calls Jonah to go preach to Nineveh, but Jonah flees the opposite direction. In the port of Joppa, he boards a ship for Tarshish. 2. The ship is caught up in a terrible storm. The sailors cast lots and find the Jonah is the cause of the storm. They throw him into the sea and the storm stops. 3. The Lord appoints a big fish to swallow Jonah. From the fish’s belly Jonah cries out for mercy. Climax 4. After three days, the Lord causes the fish to spit out Jonah on the shore. 5. The Lord calls Jonah to Nineveh a second time and Jonah obeys. He goes and preaches to the Ninevites. 6. Jonah’s preaching inspires a great repentance in Nineveh and the Lord relents from the destruction he had planned. Falling Action and Resolution 7. Jonah is angry that the Lord spares Nineveh. The Lord gives Jonah an object lesson with a plant and tells him that he cares for Nineveh.