Jeremiah 36
Explanation and Bible story for toddlers and preschoolers (ages 3-6)
The Explanation
Long, long ago, there lived a man. His name was Jeremiah. Jeremiah knew God very well. And God spoke to Jeremiah. God said many things.
But the people did not listen. They did bad things. God was sad about that.
Then God said: "Jeremiah, write it all down." So Jeremiah called his friend. His friend's name was Baruch. Baruch could write beautifully.
Jeremiah spoke, and Baruch wrote. He wrote on a long scroll. A scroll is a rolled up piece of paper. Very long. All God's words were on it.
Then Baruch went to the big house of God. He read the scroll out loud. Everyone could hear it. All God's words.
What Does This Mean?
The king heard about it. The king lived in a warm palace. There was a fire, glowing in a little pot. It was cold outside, winter.
"Bring that scroll here," said the king. "I want to hear it too."
A man began to read. He read a little piece. Then the king took a knife. And do you know what he did? He cut a piece off the scroll. And he threw it in the fire.
The paper burned. Snap, crackle. Gone.
He read another piece. The king cut it off. Into the fire. Again. And again. Until the whole scroll was burned.
The king did not want to listen to God. He thought: I will just burn God's words. Then they are gone.
The Common Thread
But God's words do not burn up. Really not. God said to Jeremiah: "Take a new scroll. Write it all down again." And Jeremiah did that. Together with Baruch.
The words came back. Even more words than before.
You see, God's words are stronger than fire. Stronger than a mean king. Stronger than anything. Later, much later, Jesus came. Jesus is also God's Word. People wanted to make Jesus go away too. But Jesus lives. Forever.
For You
You have a Bible at home, maybe. Or a children's Bible. Those are God's words. Not burned up. Still here. For you.
You may listen. When Mommy or Daddy reads. Then God is speaking. Really.
The king put his fingers in his ears. He did not want to hear. But you can open your ears wide. And your heart too.
Do you know what is nice? God kept His words safe. All that time. So that you could hear them, right now.
Talk About It
What did the king do with the scroll? Was that a good thing or a naughty thing?
Where are God's words now? Can you point to the Bible?
Praying Together
Dear God,
Thank You for Your words. The king burned them up. But You kept them safe. Now I can hear them too. Help me to listen. With my ears and my heart.
Amen.
Questions about Jeremiah 36
Short answers for anyone reading about this for the first time.
What is Jeremiah 36 about?
What does Jeremiah 36 say?
What does Jeremiah 36 teach us about God?
What can toddlers learn from Jeremiah 36?
Why is Jeremiah 36 an important Bible story?
What others discovered
The king burned the scroll piece by piece, thinking he could silence God by destroying paper. But God simply said to Jeremiah, "Take again another scroll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first scroll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah has burned."
You cannot burn away what God has spoken. You may resist His word, ignore it, cut it out of your life like Jehoiakim with his penknife, but it will come back. Sometimes louder. What word have you been trying to silence?
Looking for something for slightly older children?
We also have dedicated versions for elementary age (7-12) and teens (12 and up).
Open in the Children's Bible tool
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