Jeremiah- Tired and Proud of the People's Request

By Mary Vee
Jeremiah 40, II Kings 25

From Jeremiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy - Egypt

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

I am tired. And so are all the people walking as prisoners with me. 

The evil Ishmael and his army took us all as captives. He first killed the kind governor who was in charge over us and thousands of others. Then, because he was afraid Nebuchadnezzar's army would capture him and kill him for what he did, he escaped and took us as prisoners with him.

Guess where he wanted to take us. He wanted to take us to Egypt of all places!

God sent Johanan and his army to come rescue us. He had to chase us all the way to the great pool in Gibeon before he caught up. We all cheered when we saw him and ran to Johanan's side. 

Ismael, though, turned and ran away before Johanan captured him. Hah!

Johanan removed all our chains and said he would help us to return home. After we rested, the people came to me and said, "Jeremiah, please hear our request and pray to the Lord your God for us. You can see we were once many and now are only a few. Please pray that the Lord your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do."

Their request touched my heart, and I'm sure it touched God's as well. I said, "I will certainly pray to the Lord your God as you have requested. I will tell you everything the Lord says and won't keep any part of His message back from you."

The people said, "We want to act as the Lord says. May He judge us if we don't. No matter what the Lord says, we will obey Him, so that it will go well with us. We will obey the Lord our God."

So I prayed to the Lord as the people asked. Here is what the Lord said, "If you stay in this land, I will build you up and not tear you down. I will make sure you can stay in your homes. Don't be afraid of the king of Babylon. I know he scares you, but I am with you and will save you. I will deliver you from his hands. I will show you compassion by causing him to have compassion on you and will restore you to your land."

"If you disobey me and choose to live in Egypt, then you will be overtaken. Famine and the sword will overtake you in Egypt and there you will die.

And now I will wait to see what the people will decide.

Come back to see what happened next.
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1.  Why was Jeremiah and the people traveling with him tired?
2.  Why did Ishmael want to go to Egypt?
3.  Who saved the people?
4.  What did the people ask Jeremiah to do?
5.  What instruction did God give?

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?

Ishmael

By Mary Vee

Genesis 21:8-14
In our last story, Sarah saw Ishmael picking on baby Isaac. Ishmael was seventeen-years-old at this time and Isaac was three. Sarah told Abraham what she saw.

"Look, Husband, Ishmael can't be trusted. He could have hurt Isaac. He and his mother must go, they have to go now. I won't have him trying to take away Isaac's inheritance."

"Sarah, my lovely wife, be reasonable. Ishmael is my son."

Sarah went in the tent and refused to speak to Abraham the rest of the night.

While Abraham rested, God spoke to him. "Abraham, don't be sad about sending Ishmael and his mother away. You need to listen to Sarah. My promises to you will come to pass through Isaac. I know how much you love Ishmael. For this reason I will also make a nation from him because he is your son."

The next morning, Abraham awoke before the rooster crowed. He packed bread and water, visited Hagar and then went to Ishmael's tent.

"Ishmael, wake up."

"Yes?"

"I must speak with you." Abraham sat on a nearby chair. "I just came from your mother's tent. I told her the message I received from God last night, now I must tell you."

"OK. What is it?"

"Well, you understand how I feel about obeying God's commands." Abraham picked up a stick from the floor and twirled it around in his hand.

"Yes. You obey God because you love Him."

"Very true. God has asked me to send you and your mother away from here." Abraham took a deep breath. "God said he would make a nation from you because you are my son; but I must first send you and your mother away. You must go this morning. Hagar is packing right now."

Suddenly the tent door opened. Hagar pressed her head inside. "Come Ishmael. Time to go."

Abraham hugged Ishmael. "God be with you both."

At times, God asks us to to do difficult things. God asked Abraham to leave his home and travel to a new place. Abraham obeyed. This is another time God asked Abraham to do something difficult. Abraham obeyed. Perhaps God is asking you to do something difficult like being nice to someone who is mean, doing a chore you don't want to do, or something else. What can we do to help us want to obey?