When God Forgives

In that city of Nineveh there are more than 120,000 people who cannot tell right from wrong, and many cattle are also there. Don’t you think I should be concerned about that big city?

Jonah 4:11 (CEV)

Have you ever had a hard time forgiving someone who upset you? Maybe your brother lost your favorite toy. Or your friend said they didn’t want to play anymore.

Jonah also struggled to forgive. Jonah was one of God’s prophets, or messengers for God, in Israel. God sent Jonah to the people of Nineveh to share a message from God. Jonah didn’t want to go because he believed God would forgive them if they repented; he wanted them to get in trouble!

So, Jonah tried to run away, but God caused a huge fish to swallow him. He prayed and God gave him another chance. Jonah obeyed God and preached to the Ninevites. They changed their ways, and God forgave them.

God loved the people of Ninevah and Jonah. He loves you and the people who make you mad. He forgives you and wants you to forgive others. Will you ask him to help you do that today?

HERO TRAINING

What do you need to ask God to forgive, and who do you need to forgive. Talk to God about it today!

GOD'S WONDERFUL WORLD

Some kinds of whales are bigger than school buses! They are the biggest animals in the world. (They could hold a lot of Jonahs!)

KEEP IT GOING

Related passages: These additional verses will help expand your children's Scriptural knowledge and place on the armor of God’s Word to tackle each day. Swipe to read the passages today.

Exodus 34:6–7

Psalm 145:8–9

Luke 6:36

Ephesians 2:4-5

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Tonia Gutting wrote this devotional for the Hero Squad Program of the American Bible Society. Hero Squad provides complimentary faith-based resources to strengthen and encourage military families through God’s Word. For more information or to enroll your military family, check out our website.www.myherosquad.org.