Jeremiah-One Day We Will All Come Home

By Mary Vee
Jeremiah 32

From Jeremiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Jeremiah. I am a prophet, a messenger sent from God.

You may have noticed that some of the stories in this series are from the prophet Ezekiel and some are written from me.

Ezekiel is the prophet God is giving messages to in Babylon where many of the Israelites were taken captive.

I am the prophet God is giving messages to in Jerusalem where some of the people were left behind. So today, you are back in Jerusalem with me.

Zedekiah was allowed to remain king to the few people left here in Jerusalem--as long as he did what King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon wanted. Well, he chose to disobey and rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar. God gave me several messages to deliver to Zedekiah warning him not to do that. But he didn't listen.

Nebuchadnezzar sent his army to destroy Jerusalem because of Zedekiah's rebellion. While the army attacked, I was put in prison in the courtyard of the guard in the royal palace. I couldn't hide. I was locked up. Zedekiah put me in prison because he didn't like the messages I gave him from God.

Zedekiah said, "Why do you give messages from God as you do? You say, 'This is what the Lord says, 'I am about to hand this city over to the king of Babylon, and he will capture it. Zedekiah king of Judah will not escape out of the hands of the Babylonians but will certainly be handed over to the king of Babylon. He will speak with him face to face and see him with his own eyes. He will take Zedekiah to Babylon where he will remain until I deal with him, says the Lord. If you fight against the Babylonians, you will not succeed.'"

He walked away from me and there I stayed in prison.

But this isn't the end. God spoke to me and said my uncle would come and asks me to buy his field.

Photo Courtesy

Then, just as the Lord said, my uncle visited me in prison and asked me to buy his field. Since he did exactly as the Lord said I answered, "Yes, I will buy your field." I gave him the money and signed the deed. I gave the deed to Baruch, my scribe, in front of many witnesses. 

"See?" I told everyone near. "This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel says. "Take these documents, both the sealed and unsealed copies of the deed of land purchase and put them in a clay jar so they will last a long time. Houses, fields, and vineyards will again be bought in this land by our people. We will, all our people will, one day be able to come back home."

I can only keep trying to give God's messages. Maybe some of the people will listen.

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1. Where is Ezekiel a prophet?
2. Where is Jeremiah a prophet?
3. Who is king in Jerusalem?
4. Why did the king put Jeremiah in prison?
5. Who came to visit Jeremiah in prison?
6. What did Jeremiah buy? Why did he buy it?

Jeremiah-Why God Asked Jeremiah to Wear a Yoke

By Mary Vee
Jeremiah 27

From Jeremiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy - Jeremiah wearing a yoke

God likes to show the people what He wants to tell them. As a prophet, called by God, He has asked me to show this new message to help them understand. My name is Jeremiah.

King Josiah sadly died in battle. After his death, his son Zedekiah took over the throne. 

God had promised long ago that a great punishment would come to the people because they wouldn't stop worshipping idols. While Josiah was king, though, God sad He would not bring the punishment because Josiah worshipped God.

Zedekiah hadn't been a king for very long before God sent me a message. He asks me to make a yoke. A yoke is a piece of wood placed over an animal's neck. Look at the picture. 

Next God asked me to send a message to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon. I was to give the message to the ambassadors from these countries who had come to live in Jerusalem. 

God's message was this: Every country is to be under the rule of King Nebuchadnezzar. God has given him charge over every country. 

If every country obeys and willingly does what King Nebuchadnezzar says, they we will all be able to stay in our lands, live in our homes, farm our land. 

But any country that chooses to rebel against King Nebuchadnezzar will famine, plagues, and the sword. 

Don't listen to your prophets and counselors who say you don't have to serve King Nebuchadnezzar, because destruction will surely come to you. 

Those who obey and allow King Nebuchadnezzar to rule their country will remain in their own land.

I also gave the message to Zedekiah, king of Judah. I told the temple priests. Everyone heard the message sent by God. They have been all warned.

But not everyone listened. 

Come back next time to see what happened.

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1. Why does God have His prophets sometimes show the people His message?
2. Jeremiah is a _________________
3. What did God ask Jeremiah to do?
4. What message did God have for Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon?
5. Who else did Jeremiah tell the message to?
6. When he finished telling the message, what did some of the people do?