LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH: The Third Candle

SCRIPTURE: Jonah 1:1-4, 16-17; 3:1-5

Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai, saying, “Go at once to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before me.” But Jonah set out to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid his fare and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord. But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and such a mighty storm came upon the sea that the ship threatened to break up. So the men picked Jonah up and threw him into the sea; and the sea ceased from its raging. …Then the men feared the Lord even more, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows. But the Lord provided a large fish to swallow up Jonah; and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. …The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, “Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.” So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days’ walk across. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried out, “Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.

LESSON

Jonah was one of God’s special preachers, called a prophet. God asked Jonah to do a special and important job. But Jonah didn’t want to do the job God asked him to do, so he ran away. Of course, God always knew where Jonah went; no one can run away from God. God was with Jonah on the storm-tossed ship, and God was with Jonah in the belly of the fish. God was with Jonah when he finally went to Ninevah to do the job God had asked Jonah to do. We can’t run away from God. God wants us to obey him, but even when we don’t, God is still with us. God loves us at all times and in all places.

THINK OR TALK ABOUT

Have you ever tried to hide from God?

PRAYER

Loving God, thank you for watching over us in all things.