Jonah Finally Obeys Orders. Jonah 1:1-3.
(Jonah didn’t obey and got into trouble.)
This lesson suggested in:
Camping for Boys (1913) by H. W.
Gibson, Chapter VIII—“Moral and Religious Life.”
And it is also suggested in:
Cheley, F. H. and G. Cornelius Baker.
Camp and Outing Activities. NY:
Association Press, 1915.
Note that even though Gibson suggested
just three verses, the lesson involved the entire book of Jonah.
Actually, even though we call it a “book,” it is very short, and you
should read all of it. Those who have never read it think it is all about a
“whale” (or a “big fish”), but other things happen to Jonah besides
being swallowed by a “whale.” The whole is story is about two things, both
of which relate to obedience:
First, Jonah tried to run away from God
rather than obey God.
Second, Jonah didn’t want to allow God to decide whether or not the city of Nineveh should be condemned. When we want to take decisions into our own hands, rather than letting the real leader decide, we are not obedient.
Not many people have heard the full story of Jonah, so telling the whole story will make a good lesson for Scouts.