God Called Jeremiah
Thank you for continuing this journey of The Gospel Project® for Kids as we look at the exile of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Jeremiah was the son of Hilkiah the priest. He lived just north of Jerusalem. Jeremiah’s ministry began when God called him: “I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born. I appointed you a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5).
Who else did God call in the Old Testament? God called Noah to build an ark (Genesis 6); He called Abram to leave his home (Gen. 12:1-4); He called Moses to lead His people out of Egypt (Exodus 3). Each time God calls someone, He equips them to do His work. Like Moses, Jeremiah was hesitant: “Oh no, Lord, God! Look, I don’t know how to speak since I am only a youth” (Jeremiah 1:6). God assured Jeremiah: “I will be with you” (Jeremiah 1:8).
God called Jeremiah to be a prophet to Judah. Judah was deep in idol worship and other sins. God’s judgment was coming. Jeremiah’s job was to warn them. God gave Jeremiah two visions. The first—a branch of an almond tree—was a sign that God would keep His promise to send judgment, and He would do it soon. The second vision—a boiling pot—meant that God’s judgment was coming from the north. God would bring the Babylonians from the north as judgment on His people. Then God sent Jeremiah out to announce God’s declaration.
Jeremiah challenged the way people lived in Judah and led them to turn away from their idol worship and other sins. Christ did more than challenge how people lived; He called people to turn from their sins, and He provided the way for people to have a relationship with God.
God Called Jeremiah
When Josiah was the king of Judah, God spoke to Jeremiah, a priest. God spoke to Jeremiah for many years. God said to Jeremiah, “I knew you before I made you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born, I chose you to do very special things. I chose you to be a prophet to the nations.”
Being a prophet meant listening to what God said and telling the people God’s message. Jeremiah said, “Oh no, God! I don’t know how to speak in front of other people. I’m just a boy, only a youth.”
God replied, “Don’t say that. You will go where I send you and say what I tell you to say. You do not need to be afraid of anyone because I am with you. I will protect you.”
Then God reached out His hand and touched Jeremiah’s mouth. “I’m giving you the words to say,” God said. “I am putting you in charge of nations and kingdoms. You will give the people My message. It is a message of destruction, of bad things happening because of their sin. It is also a message of reconstruction. After I tear down the people, I will rebuild them.”
God gave Jeremiah two visions. Visions are like dreams, except Jeremiah was awake. God said, “What do you see, Jeremiah?”
Jeremiah said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.”
“You are right,” God said. The almond branch was a sign for Jeremiah so he would know that God would do what He said He would, and He would do it soon.
Then Jeremiah saw a second vision. He saw a boiling pot. The pot was over owing from the north! God told Jeremiah that this vision meant trouble was coming from the north. Trouble would come for everyone in Judah.
God told Jeremiah what would happen. God said that the rulers in the north were going to come and set up their kingdoms outside the city gates of Jerusalem. They were going to attack Jerusalem and other cities in Judah. God was going to judge the people of Judah for their sin. They had walked away from God; they worshiped their own man- made gods instead.
Jeremiah had a big job to do, and God was ready to send him on his way. “Get ready! Tell the people everything I say. Do not be afraid. I am making you strong against the people. They will ght you, but they’ll never win. I’m here to protect you and to rescue you.” These are the words of God that came to Jeremiah the priest.
Christ Connection: Jeremiah challenged the way people lived in Judah and called them to turn away from their idol worship and other sins. Christ did more than challenge how people lived; He called people to turn from their sins, and He provided the way for people to have a relationship with God.