This lesson teaches children that God is with His people even in hard and confusing times, and that they can trust Him when things do not go the way they expected. It works well for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
Big Idea
God is still in charge and still cares for us, even when life feels scary or mixed up. We can trust Him and do what is right.
Memory Verse
Jeremiah 40:9
Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan swore to them and to their men, saying, “Don’t be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it will be well with you.
(WEB)
Have the children stand and hold their hands out in front of them, palms up, like they are receiving a gift. Then have them slowly bring their hands together over their hearts as they say the verse together.
The Story: Jeremiah 40 for Kids
Jeremiah was a prophet who had been telling the people of Jerusalem for a long time that they must turn back to God. They did not listen, and now the city had been destroyed. Many of the people had been taken away in chains to a faraway land called Babylon. Jeremiah was in chains too, with the other prisoners.
But the captain of the guard, a man named Nebuzaradan, found Jeremiah and set him free. He said, “The LORD your God said this terrible thing would happen, and it did, because the people did not obey Him.” Then the captain gave Jeremiah a choice. He could come to Babylon with him and be taken care of, or he could stay in the land. The choice was his.
Jeremiah chose to stay in the land of Judah. He went to live with a good man named Gedaliah in a town called Mizpah. The king of Babylon had put Gedaliah in charge of the people who were left behind. Some soldiers and leaders who had been hiding in the fields came to Mizpah too.
Gedaliah made them a promise. He told them, “Don’t be afraid. If you serve the king of Babylon and live peacefully in the land, things will go well for you.” He was kind and wanted everyone to be safe. He told the people to gather food, store it up, and keep living in their homes.
Then the people who had scattered to other countries heard about Gedaliah and came back home to Judah. They gathered wine and summer fruit, and for a little while, things started to feel good again. But trouble was still coming, because some people had bad hearts and wanted to hurt Gedaliah.
A leader named Johanan warned Gedaliah that a man named Ishmael was planning to take his life. Gedaliah did not believe the warning. Johanan wanted to stop Ishmael himself, but Gedaliah said no and told him, “You must not do this thing.” The story shows that even in confusing times, God’s plans keep going, and we can trust Him to take care of us.
Read It Together
Jeremiah 40:1-3
1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him being bound in chains among all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah, who were carried away captive to Babylon. 2 The captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said to him, “The LORD your God pronounced this evil on this place; 3 and the LORD has brought it, and done according as he spoke. Because you have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing has come on you.
(WEB)
Point out that God’s word came to Jeremiah even while he was in chains. Ask the children to notice that the captain freed Jeremiah and explained that these troubles came because the people had not obeyed God.
Jeremiah 40:4-5
4 Now, behold, I release you today from the chains which are on your hand. If it seems good to you to come with me into Babylon, come, and I will take care of you; but if it seems bad to you to come with me into Babylon, don’t. Behold, all the land is before you. Where it seems good and right to you to go, there go.” 5 Now while he had not yet gone back, “Go back then,” he said, “to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people; or go wherever it seems right to you to go.” So the captain of the guard gave him food and a present, and let him go.
(WEB)
Show the children that Jeremiah had a real choice to make about where to go. Explain that he could trust God’s guidance as he made that decision, and that God cares about the choices we face.
Jeremiah 40:10
As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah, to stand before the Chaldeans who will come to us; but you, gather wine and summer fruits and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that you have taken.”
(WEB)
Help the children see that Gedaliah told the people to work hard and take care of their homes. Explain that doing our everyday work faithfully is one way we trust God when we do not know what comes next.
Talk About It
- What do you think Jeremiah felt when he was set free but still had to make a hard choice?
- Why do you think the people had trouble when they did not listen to God?
- How can you tell that Gedaliah wanted to help the people?
- What is one thing you can do when you feel scared about something you do not understand?
- How can you remember that God is still in charge when things change around you?
Activity Ideas
Paper Plate Shield Craft
You will need a paper plate, crayons or markers, and a few sheets of construction paper. Have each child draw a picture of something that helps them feel safe, like a family member, a pet, or a Bible, on one side of the plate. On the other side, have them write or draw the word “Trust.” Let them hold the plate up as a shield to remind them that God protects them.
Hands Up, Hands Down Game
Ask the children to stand in a circle. Call out “Trust” and have them raise both hands up high. Call out “Worry” and have them cover their eyes with their hands. Mix the commands up quickly and keep the game moving. End by saying, “God is with us even when we feel mixed up,” and let the children sit down.
Take-Home Promise Card
Give each child an index card and a pencil. Have them write the memory verse, or draw a simple picture of Gedaliah’s promise: “Don’t be afraid.” Encourage them to tape the card to their bedroom door or their lunchbox. Ask them to read it aloud each morning this week and tell a family member what it means to them.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that God’s plans continue even when circumstances seem chaotic or unfair. Jeremiah was faithful to God’s word through captivity and uncertainty, and his story reminds us that God works through faithful people in every season. We can trust His character even when we cannot see the whole picture.
When teaching children, avoid promising that trusting God will always make life easy or safe. Gedaliah’s story ends with his death, and children may ask about it. Be honest that bad things happen, and focus on God’s presence and faithfulness rather than guaranteed outcomes.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You that You are with us even when things change and we feel scared. Help us trust You when we do not understand what is happening. Help us do the right thing each day, just like Jeremiah did. Thank You for always taking care of us. Amen.
