Jeremiah-When Greed Avalanches

By Mary Vee
Jeremiah 40, II Kings 25

From Jeremiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy- Mizpah-home of Gedaliah

My name is Jeremiah. I am a prophet, a person sent from God to give messages to the Israelites who still live in Jerusalem.

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon appointed Gedaliah to be governor over Jerusalem.

Gedaliah was a kind man who worked for King Nebuchadnezzar. 

There were those who wanted our land returned to the Jews and Jewish rule. God said this punishment would happen. He also told the people to live under the rule of Nebuchadnezzar. 

During the seventh months of Gedaliah's rule, the men and women who still lived in Judah had a good life. They harvested summer fruits and had nice homes.

One day, though, Ishmael, who was of royal blood and an officer of the king, brought with him ten men to visit Gedaliah in Mizpah.

Gedaliah welcomed them warmly and invited them to sit down to a meal. Ishmael accepted the invitation. They all sat at the table and were served the best food.

While they were eating and talking, Ishmael signaled his ten men. They all stood, drew their swords and attacked Gedaliah, all the Jews, and the Babylonian soldiers sitting at the table.

The next morning no one had heard what had happened to Gedaliah. They didn't have phones or computers. Everyone who was alive to report the news had been killed. 

Ishmael and his ten friends walked away from Gedaliah's home. On the road, they met eight men who had completed a vow and were on their way to offer a grain and incense to God at the house of the Lord.

Ishmael walked toward them weeping (he was faking), and said, "Come to Gedaliah's house. The eighty men followed Ishmael to Gedaliah's house. Once inside, Ishmael killed all but ten of them who promised to give him food. 

Ishmael took prisoner every person left in Mizpah, including the king's daughters whom Gedaliah protected, and marched them to the Ammonites.

Who will God send to stop this evil man?

Come back to see what happened next.
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1.  Everyone lived in peace in Judah until...?
2.  Why did Ishmael come?
3.  How did Gedaliah treat Ishmael?
4.  What happened at the meal?
5.  What did Ishmael do to the eighty men?
6.  What did Ishmael do to the rest of the people living in Mizpah?

Jeremiah-An Assassination Plan Built on Greed

By Mary Vee
Jeremiah 40, II Kings 25

From Jeremiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy - Delicious grapes

My name is Jeremiah. I am a prophet, a person sent from God to give messages to the Israelites who still live in Jerusalem.

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon appointed Gedaliah to be governor over Jerusalem.

Gedaliah was a kind man. He sent messages to the Jews who fled to caves, fields, and nearby countries telling them they could and should come home. They would be able to harvest the crops and live in peace.

The people did return. They harvested a great deal of wine and summer fruit. Everyone seemed happy and content.

Gedaliah reassured the soldiers who had been left behind, "Do not be afraid to serve the Babylonians. Settle down in the land and serve the king of Babylon and it will go well with you. I myself will stay in Mizpah to represent you before the Babylonians who come to us. You may harvest the wine, summer fruit, and oil and put them in your storage jars. Live in the towns you have taken over. You will see. All will be well."

Johanan, one of the officers said, "Gedaliah, did you know that Baalis, king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael, son of Nethaniah to take your life?"

Gedaliah shook his head. "This isn't so. We are living in peace here and have harvested plenty of food. No. I don't believe Ishmael will."

Johanan leaned close to Gedaliah and whispered. "I care about you. You are doing a good job. Let me go and kill Ishmael and no one will know it. Why should he take your life and cause all the Jews who have returned to be scattered again, and the few men and women left from Judah to die? Please. I'll stop him!"

Gedaliah shook his head again. "Look, Johanan. I know you mean well. But don't do such a thing. What you are saying about Ishmael is simply not true."

For several months the people lived in peace, just as Gedaliah said.

Until...

Come back to see what happened next.
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1.  Who did King Nebuchadnezzar appoint to govern Judah?
2.  Was he a good governor?
3.  Who did Johanan say wanted to kill the new governor?
4. The governor didn't believe Johanan. The people had everything. What did the governor say to Johanan?
5.  So the people lived in peace under the rule of King Nebuchadnezzar and his governor. Do you think Johanan was wrong?

Jeremiah-In the Middle of All the Trouble, God Spoke to Me

By Mary Vee
Jeremiah 39, II Kings 25

From Jeremiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Jeremiah. I am a prophet, a person sent from God to give messages to the Israelites who still live in Jerusalem.

So much has happened, I'm not surprised I couldn't sleep last night. 

The Babylonian soldiers took most of the people living in Jerusalem to be slaves and marched them to Babylon. 

I am still in the prison in the courtyard of the guard. All around me buildings are being ruined and people dragged away. And in the middle of all the trouble, God spoke to me.

God said to me, "Go find Ebed-Melech the Cushite."

Ebed-Melech was the man who saved me from the cistern. Do you remember when the false prophets talked King Zedekiah into punishing me for saying God's messages? They lowered me into a deep, dark cistern. The muck came up to my waste. I couldn't move. Ebed-Melech found out what happened to me. He ran--and he was a fast runner--to the king and talked Zedekiah into allowing my rescue. He said, "You can't do this to a prophet of God."

Because he saved my life, God had this message for him, "Ebed-Melech, I am about to fulfill my words against this city through disaster, not prosperity. At that time they will be fulfilled before your eyes. But I will rescue you on that day. You will not be handed over to those who you scare you. I will save you. You will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life. This is because you trust in Me."

Ebed-Melech was grateful. 

With chains binding me, I had walked with the other captives from Jerusalem and Judah as far as Ramah. The soldiers were taking us to Babylon to be slaves. I didn't sleep very well that night. Neither did any of the others. We had no way to escape.

The sun rose the next morning. My mouth had a dry nasty taste. The soldiers woke the others and told us to stand and continue the march. One man, the commander of the imperial guard came to me and said, "the Lord your God has brought this disaster for your city."

I nodded. He spoke the truth, just as God told me.

"The Lord has done just as he said he would. All this happened because you people sinned against the Lord and did not obey him."

I nodded again and was amazed that he spoke the same words I had been saying. All the prisoners around me heard him.

"Today, Jeremiah, I am freeing you from the chains on your wrists. Come with me to Babylon, if you like, and I will look after you. But if you do not want to go, then don't. Look out in front of you, at the whole country. Go wherever you please."

I looked and thought for a moment.

"Go back to Gedaliah," he said. "He is governor of the city. Go and live among the people, or go anywhere else you please."

The commander gave me food and a present. "Go. Live in peace."

So I did. I carried the food and the present he gave and walked away from those who were still in chains and heading for Babylon. I kept walking until I reached Gedaliah and told him what the commander had said. 

From there I went home. I slept in my own bed and lived with the people who were left behind in the land. God has blessed me and I look forward to this rest.


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1.  Who attacked Jerusalem?
2.  What reward did God give Ebed-Melech for saving Jeremiah from the cistern?
3.  Why was Jeremiah in chains?
4.  What did did the commander of the imperial army give Jeremiah?
5.  Where did he let Jeremiah go?

Jeremiah-Sometimes TattleTellers Win, Sometimes They Lose

By Mary Vee
Jeremiah 38

From Jeremiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Jeremiah. I am a prophet, a person sent from God to give messages to the Israelites who still live in Jerusalem. There aren't many people left living here. Most were taken away as prisoners.

King Zedekiah released me from the dungeon after I reminded him he should not put a messenger of God in such a horrid place. I don't think I could have lived there much longer. It was so very cold, damp, and dark. The air smelled old and I barely had anything to eat or drink. 

I was placed under the care of a guard in the Royal court. At least there I had the freedom to warn the people. God said, "Tell the people to surrender to Nebuchadnezzar." 

King Zedekiah, disagreed. All his officials disagreed as well. The false prophets told them they did not need to surrender. Everything would be fine in a short time.

I didn't care. God told me to tell the people his message, so I did. 

One day Shephatiah, Gedaliah, Jehucal, and Pashhur stopped in the court and stood behind a crowd of people, listening to me speak, "Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine, or plague. But whoever goes over to the Babylonians will live. You will escape with your life. You will live. This city will certainly be handed over to the army of the king of Babylon who will capture it. This is what the Lord says." 

The officials stomped away, in the direction of King Zedekiah's chamber. "We're going to tell the king what you're saying to the people."

I heard from one of the servants what they did inside the king's palace. They barged into the King's chambers and demanded to speak to him. One said, "Jeremiah should be put to death. He is discouraging the soldiers, the few who we still have left in the city, as well as all the people. He isn't looking out for the people's good. He is trying to ruin them--ruin the whole city!"

King Zedekiah shrugged and drank from his glass. "Go ahead and do with him as you please. I will not oppose whatever you have in mind."

Shephatiah, Gedaliah, Jehucal, and Pashhur walked away, thanking the king for his kindness. Once they reached the corridor, they leaped for joy and laughed. "At last, we will be rid of Jeremiah."

No matter what they choose to do to me, God will be in charge.

There is more to this story. Come back next time to see how these men will end up loosing this battle.

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1.  Where was Jeremiah held as prisoner?
2.  What did Jeremiah tell the people?
3.  Who became upset with Jeremiah's words?
4.  Why did this make them mad (the answer is in what they said to the king)
5.  What did King Zedekiah decide after hearing the complaint of these men?
6.  What do you think Shephatiah, Gedaliah, Jehucal, and Pashhur will do?