Jeremiah 21
Explanation and Bible story for toddlers and preschoolers (ages 3-5)
The Explanation
There was a king. His name was Zedekiah.
Zedekiah was scared. Very scared.
A big army was coming. Soldiers, so many soldiers. They wanted to fight his city.
Zedekiah sent two men to Jeremiah. Jeremiah talked with God.
"Ask God," the king said. "Ask if He will help us."
Jeremiah listened. God answered.
But it was not the answer the king wanted.
God said, "I will not help you fight. I will not stop this."
God said the city would fall. He said this made Him sad, and angry too.
The king had not been kind. He had let bad things happen.
What Does This Mean?
God gave the people two paths. Two ways to go.
One way stayed inside the city. The other way went outside, to the enemy.
God said, "Stay, and you will not live. Go out, and you will live."
That sounds strange, doesn't it? But God knew what was coming.
He was not tricking them. He was telling the truth.
God always tells the truth, even hard truth.
The Common Thread
God cared about fairness. He told the king's family, "Be fair. Help people who are treated badly."
God does not like it when strong people hurt weak people. Never.
Long, long after this, another King came. His name was Jesus.
Jesus was the fair King. He never hurt anyone. He helped the weak ones.
He helped the sick. He helped the poor. He was kind, always kind.
Jesus shows us who God really is. God is just, and God is good.
For You
Are you fair, like God wants?
If your friend has no toy, do you share yours?
If someone is left out, do you go get them?
God sees the little things you do. He sees when you are kind.
He is glad when you help someone small, someone left out, someone sad.
Talk About It
Why do you think God wanted the king to be fair to people?
Can you think of someone you could be kind to today?
Praying Together
Dear God,
Thank You for always telling the truth.
Help me to be fair, like You.
Help me to be kind to someone today.
Thank You for Jesus, our good King.
Amen.
Questions about Jeremiah 21
Short answers for anyone reading about this for the first time.
What is Jeremiah 21 about?
What others discovered
Zedekiah sends for prayer, but not for repentance. He wants rescue from the God he has ignored for years. And notice the word: "I will deliver" them into the hand of their enemies. Deliver, the rescue word, turned inside out. Mercy had been standing at his door a long time. Are you asking God to save your life while quietly refusing to change it?
He who remains in this city will die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence; but he who goes out and passes over to the Chaldeans who besiege you, he will live, and he will escape with his life."
Surrender was salvation. What a strange word from God. Jerusalem clung to its walls thinking safety lived there, but God said life was found in walking out with empty hands toward the enemy.
Sometimes the thing you are gripping is the thing killing you. And the surrender you fear may be the doorway God has opened.
Looking for something for slightly older children?
We also have dedicated versions for elementary age (6-12) and teens (13 and up).
Open in the Children's Bible tool
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