In this lesson, children learn that God keeps his promises even when the people around them make hard and dangerous choices. The story of Jeremiah 38 is best for children roughly 5 to 11, and it takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach with discussion and an activity.
Big Idea
God always tells the truth, and he takes care of the people who trust him, even when they are stuck in a scary place.
Memory Verse
Jeremiah 38:20
But Jeremiah said, “They won’t deliver you. Obey, I beg you, the LORD’s voice, in that which I speak to you; so it will be well with you, and your soul will live.
(WEB)
Teach the children to cup both hands together in front of their chest, then slowly open them like a book as they say the verse. This motion reminds them that Jeremiah trusted God’s words and was willing to listen and obey.
The Story: Jeremiah 38 for Kids
Long ago, God sent a prophet named Jeremiah to tell the people of Jerusalem a hard message. God said the city would be attacked by the army of Babylon, and the people who stayed would not be safe. Some of the leaders did not like hearing this, so they got angry at Jeremiah.
The leaders went to King Zedekiah and said, “Jeremiah is making the soldiers and the people lose hope. Please let us get rid of him.” The king said, “He is in your hands. I cannot stop you.” So the leaders grabbed Jeremiah and lowered him into a deep, muddy pit. There was no water in the pit, only thick mud, and Jeremiah sank down into it.
A kind man named Ebedmelech heard what had happened. He was not one of the leaders, and he cared about Jeremiah. He went to the king and said, “My lord, these men have done a wicked thing. Jeremiah will die down there if no one helps him.” The king told Ebedmelech to take thirty men and pull Jeremiah out of the pit before it was too late.
Ebedmelech took old rags and worn-out clothes and lowered them down with ropes. He told Jeremiah to put the rags under his arms so the ropes would not hurt him. Then the men slowly pulled Jeremiah up out of the mud. Jeremiah was safe, and he stayed in the guard’s courtyard.
Later, King Zedekiah called Jeremiah to a quiet place in the Lord’s house and asked him for advice. The king said, “I will ask you something. Please do not hide anything from me.” Jeremiah told the king that if he went out and surrendered to the Babylonian officers, his life would be spared and the city would not burn. But the king was afraid of what others might do to him, so he did not take that advice.
Read It Together
Jeremiah 38:1-3
1 Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashhur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur the son of Malchijah, heard the words that Jeremiah spoke to all the people, saying, 2 “The LORD says, ‘He who remains in this city will die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence; but he who goes out to the Chaldeans will live, and he will escape with his life, and he will live.’ 3 The LORD says, ‘This city will surely be given into the hand of the army of the king of Babylon, and he will take it.’”
(WEB)
Point out that Jeremiah was speaking the same message God gave him, even though some people did not want to hear it. Ask the children what it is like to tell someone something they do not want to hear, and how it feels to be told the truth.
Jeremiah 38:7-9
7 Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, a eunuch, who was in the king’s house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon (the king was then sitting in Benjamin’s gate), 8 Ebedmelech went out of the king’s house, and spoke to the king, saying, 9 “My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon. He is likely to die in the place where he is, because of the famine; for there is no more bread in the city.”
(WEB)
Show the children how Ebedmelech noticed a person in trouble and spoke up to help. Explain that he was not a powerful leader, but he still cared enough to take action when someone needed rescue.
Jeremiah 38:13
So they drew up Jeremiah with the cords, and took him up out of the dungeon; and Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard.
(WEB)
Point out that Jeremiah was pulled out of the pit and brought back to safety. Remind the children that God rescued Jeremiah through the kindness of another person, which shows that God often helps us through the people around us.
Talk About It
- What did the leaders want to do to Jeremiah, and why do you think they felt that way?
- How do you think Jeremiah felt when he was stuck down in the mud?
- What was kind about what Ebedmelech did for Jeremiah?
- Why is it sometimes hard to tell the truth or do what God wants?
- When have you seen someone help a person who was in trouble?
Activity Ideas
Mud Pit Picture Craft
Give each child a sheet of paper, brown and green crayons or markers, and some cotton balls. Ask them to draw a deep pit with a stick figure of Jeremiah inside, then glue cotton balls around the edge as ropes or rags. As they work, talk about how God never left Jeremiah alone, even in the mud. Let them take their picture home to share.
Rescue Relay Game
Set up two cups or buckets as “pits” at one end of a room. Have children take turns carrying a soft stuffed animal from the start line to the bucket and back, pretending to be Ebedmelech pulling someone to safety. Cheer for every rescue and talk about how helping others is a way of showing God’s love. Keep it lively but gentle.
Trusting God Card
Cut index cards in half and give one to each child. Have them write or draw one way they can trust God when a choice feels hard, such as telling the truth or asking for help. Let them decorate the card with stickers or crayons. Encourage the children to place it on the fridge or by their bed so they can remember the lesson at home.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this passage shows that God’s word is trustworthy even when it is unpopular and when the people who hear it react with fear or anger. Jeremiah remained faithful to God’s message at real personal cost, and God preserved him through the unexpected courage of Ebedmelech. It also shows that a king who fears people more than God can make choices that hurt himself and others.
With children, avoid overstating the idea that obeying God always makes life easy or safe in the short term. Jeremiah’s story includes danger, imprisonment, and the destruction of Jerusalem, so keep the focus on God’s faithfulness and presence rather than promising that every hard choice will turn out well.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank you that you always tell us the truth and keep your promises. Help us to trust you when choices feel hard or scary, and help us to be like Ebedmelech by caring for people who need help. Thank you that you never leave us in the mud. Amen.
