Jeremiah-Hananiah, the Prophet Who Lied to Make People Feel Good

By Mary Vee
Jeremiah 28

From Jeremiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy - Jeremiah wearing a yoke

Being a prophet of God is sometimes a very difficult job. My name is Jeremiah.

Sometimes other men will claim to be a prophet. They gather the people around them and say God gave them a message.

I'm not the only prophet God has spoken to.

But if a man claims to be a prophet and lies to the people, I get pretty cranky. 

Take for example Hananiah. He stood in the temple and told the priests and all the people there that within two years all the prisoners would come back from Babylon, including Jehoiachin. He also said Nebuchadnezzar would no long rule our land and all the things taken from the temple would be brought back at that time.

"Well," I said. "This would be wonderful if it were true." But I knew it was not the truth because God said the time would be seventy years.

I turned to the people in the temple and said, "From the early times, prophets have told us war, disaster, and plague would come to many countries and great kingdoms. But, the prophet who said peace would come would prove to be a real prophet if and only if his words came true. I say in two years Hananiah's words will not come true because God, himself said Nebuchadnezzar would rule over us for seventy years."

Hananiah walked over to me, in front of all the people, took the yoke off of me and broke it. He stood and said to all the people, "The Lord says, 'In the same way, I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar off of all the nations, including Judah within two years."

I walked away. Unwilling to listen to his lies any more. Not long after, the Lord spoke to me again. He said, "Go to the Hananiah and tell him Nebuchadnezzar will rule for seventy years. And because you lied to the people you will die."

Seven months later, Hananiah died.


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1. Hananiah was a __________ prophet (good or bad)
2. What lie did Hananiah tell the people?
3. What did Hananiah do in front of the people to convince them he was not lying?
4. What was the truth?
5. Who told the truth?
6. What happened to Hananiah?

Elisha:Gehazi's Greed + Lies = Trouble

By Mary Vee
II Kings 5

From Gehazi's Journals

Photo courtesy

Naaman, the Armean commander healed of leprosy, left Elisha's house a while ago. I couldn't stop thinking about all the marvelous gifts he wanted to give Elisha.

I'm not exactly sure why my master refused the gifts. He said something about the Lord healing Naaman. I understand that. Still, when someone offers valuable gifts, one should accept them. It's only polite

Think of all he could have done with the money and clothes he would have received. Even if he didn't want them he could have given them to someone else. Maybe even me.

The thoughts swirled around in my head, driving me crazy. Poor Naaman only wanted to show his appreciation. What could be wrong with that? I had to do something. A great plan came to mind. I'd run to catch up with Naaman and those traveling with him and make up a story. If Elisha won't take the gifts, I will. 

When the time came for my outdoor chores, I turned to the road and ran in the direction Naaman traveled. The sun moved across the sky before I finally caught up with him. Not long after, I had them in sight. His group halted their horses and waited for me to catch up.

Naaman stepped down from his fancy chariot. "You are Elisha servant, right?"

"Yes, my lord."

"Is everything all right?"

"Yes." I inhaled a few times to catch my breath. "My master sent me to say 'Two young men from the company of the prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing.'"

Naaman's eyebrows rose. "By all means. Here take two talents." He tied the talents into two bags and ordered his men to give me two sets of clothing. His servants selected two pieces of clothing and walked ahead of me carrying them. 

I appreciated the servants carrying the clothing, but I didn't want Elisha to see. When we came to the top of the hill, I took the things from the servants, put them away in the house, and dismissed the servants.

I went back into the house and found Elisha standing there.

He had a suspicious look in his eyes. "Where have you been, Gehazi?"

I kept a serious look on my face. "I didn't go anywhere."

Elisha stroke his beard and leaned on his cane. "Wasn't my spirit with you when Naaman got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time we should accept gifts of money, clothes, olive groves, vineyards, flocks, herds, or servants? 

I couldn't figure how he knew all of this.

Elisha stared deeply into my eyes. He knew all that I had done! 

"Because you went to Naaman and took the gifts, his leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever." Elisha looked away.

I had hoped he wasn't serious, after all Naaman offered the gifts. 

I walked away from him and looked down at my hands. My skin had turned white as snow. I had leprosy.

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1. What did Gehazi stew about after Naaman left?
2. Why hadn't Elisha accepted the gifts from Naaman?
3. What did Gehazi decide to do?
4. What did Naaman do when Gehazi told the lies? (Naaman did not know Gehazi lied)
5. What did Gehazi do when the servants reached the hill?
6. Where did Gehazi put the things received from Naaman?
7. What did Elisha ask Gehazi?
8. What did Elisha know ahead of time?
9. What punishment did Gehazi receive?