People of the Bible: Jeremiah

Books: Jeremiah & Lamentations

Who was Jeremiah?

Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet. He’s given this name because he mourned for the nation of Israel and it’s upcoming destruction. Jeremiah was called to be a prophet right before the Babylonians would come destroy the city and exile its inhabitants. Jeremiah questioned his call initially due to his young age but God affirmed the call in Jeremiah 1:5 by stating that God had set Jeremiah apart and had always planned to use him.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

-Jeremiah 1:5 (NIV)

God told Jeremiah to warn the people that their rebellion would lead to their demise. He offered to relent from this punishment if they repented but the people failed to turn back to God. Part of the reason Jeremiah mourned was because he could see the upcoming destruction, and he pleaded with the people to change, but they refused.

Jeremiah prophesied gloom and doom. But there were many false prophets who said they were speaking for the Lord when God had not sent them. These false prophets were prophesying prosperity for Israel and the people chose to listen to them rather than Jeremiah. Later we learn that because of Israel’s rebellion and unwillingness to repent, destruction did come. What Jeremiah prophesied about came true.

Destruction came upon Israel like never before, but Jeremiah’s prophecy about punishment was paired with prophecy about hope in the future. Part of God’s punishment was to get the Israelites' attention and bring them back to himself. In the midst of chaos, God gives them a promise for a good future. God will eventually give them their land back and reestablish them as a nation, but first, God’s punishment on the nation must be released.

Here we see God’s judgement for sin, but also his mercy in giving His people new hope.

This hope was fulfilled partially when Israel was reestablished, but we saw it further fulfilled through Jesus. Jesus is who gives us all hope today. Because of His death for our sins and His resurrection, we can escape the judgment for our sins and live in heaven with Him for eternity. The world will one day experience God’s final wrath, but those who profess faith in Jesus will not experience this wrath. Instead, those people will live in His new mercy forever and ever.

Key Takeaways:

• We see the importance of LISTENING when God SPEAKS in Jeremiah's life

• Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet. His prophecy was about punishment paired with prophecy about hope in the future for the children of Israel.

• There is HOPE because God sent JESUS & His word is TRUE

Parents, 3treesKIDS will also be learning about the life of Jeremiah this Sunday, both in-person and online.

Be sure to check out their lesson at www.3trees.com/kids.

To find service times and locations, visit https://www.3trees.com/planyourvisit.

People of the Bible: Job

Book of the Bible: Job

Job was a very wealthy man that God had blessed tremendously. He had 10 children, many servants, and thousands of livestock animals. But we are also told from the beginning that Job was a righteous and godly man.

Satan approached God about Job and claimed that the only reason Job was faithful to God was because God had blessed him. Satan said that if all his possessions were taken away he would surely curse God. God disagreed because he knew Job’s heart, but he permitted Satan to test Job’s faithfulness.

Satan afflicted Job with several heartbreaking losses.

• All his livestock was either killed or stolen

• His servants were captured

• His house was blown down and all his children were killed

• He was given painful sores from the bottom of his feet to the top of his head

Everything was taken from Job. But how did he respond? Job had a wonderful perspective. He said that God was the one who gave him all he had so it was God who could take it away (Job 1:21). He continued to praise God even in the darkest of times. The people around him didn’t help much either. His wife encouraged him to curse God but he refused.

Three of his friends also came to comfort him. At first, they sat silently and mourned with him, then they started to talk it out with him. His friends tried to tell Job that his suffering was a result of his sins but he continued to defend himself saying he was indeed a righteous and blameless man. Talking things out with his friends didn’t help much, and that’s when he turned to God and began to talk to Him. Note, turning to God is always the answer. Nothing on Earth can meet our needs as the Lord can.

God reminds Job of his power and his deity. Job is comforted by knowing that God is still in control but God never gave him a reason for his suffering. Job would just have to be satisfied knowing that some things are meant for only God to know. By the end of the story, we see that God blessed Job with more children and more livestock than he had before. Job was a man that was tested greatly, but he was also a man that was incredibly blessed because he stayed faithful through his suffering.

We see that Jesus also went through suffering. Dying on the cross for the sins of the world was no easy thing, but he stayed faithful through his suffering. And because of that, when we suffer we will be rewarded if we stay strong. We may not know the reason for our suffering, but we always know that God is in control and His big picture is better than ours ever could be.

Key Takeaways:

• Suffering will happen

• Stay strong & turn to the Lord first

• God is in control & He blesses after suffering

Parents, 3treesKIDS will also be learning about the life of Job this Sunday, both in-person and online.

Be sure to check out their lesson at www.3trees.com/kids.

To find service times and locations, visit https://www.3trees.com/planyourvisit.

People of the Bible: Esther

People of the Bible: Esther

Book of the Bible: Esther

The book of Esther is about the Jewish people coming under persecution and the story of how a few significant people allowed God to use them to save the lives of many others! The book of Esther is different because it’s the only book in the Bible that doesn’t mention God by name. Throughout history, that has caused some controversy. However, even though He isn’t mentioned by name, it’s clear that He is in the story.

Who was Esther?

Esther is the star of this story. She lived during the time that Israel was in exile away from their homeland. Her parents died when she was young so she was raised by her godly cousin Mordecai.

The King at that time was vastly wealthy and ruled over a great region. He threw a banquet and requested that his wife come but she refused. The King became infuriated and set up a plan for someone else to become Queen. Esther was a beautiful young woman and she had a great character. After the search was complete, the King chose Esther to be his new Queen. Esther, following the instructions of Mordecai, kept her Jewish descent a secret.

After she became Queen, Mordecai overheard people planning an assassination of the King. Mordecai told Esther about it and she was able to prevent the attempt from taking place! She won Mordecai and herself the King's favor.

But more trouble followed. Haman, a high official in the land, began to point out the Jewish people were a problem. He pointed out that they kept themselves apart from everything and that they were disobeying the King. Haman suggested these people be destroyed to preserve the Kingdom. The King agreed to this plan and put Haman in charge of executing it.

An order was given out to destroy all the Jews.

The Jews began to mourn this news. Esther was their only hope. However, it was against the law to approach the King, even for the Queen. Approaching the King unsolicited was punishable by death, but Esther stepped out in boldness, put her trust in God, and did what she felt was right! She approached the King to save her people.

The King showed favor to her and asked her what she wanted. Esther put a masterful plan into motion that only God could have constructed. By the end of the situation, the Jews were saved, Haman was executed, and Mordecai was honored. Esther’s boldness and trust in God saved the Jewish people from destruction.

In the same way, Jesus has paved the way for all people to escape destruction. Jesus is the savior of the world and anyone who believes in Him will be saved and escape the oncoming destruction.

Like Esther, as parents, we need to demonstrate how to be bold in our faith, how to trust God in every situation we face, and stand up for what we believe in as Christians. Our children learn from our example.

Key Takeaway:

• Be Bold

• Trust God

• Stand up for what you believe in

Parents, 3treesKIDS will also be learning about the life of Esther this Sunday, both in-person and online.

Be sure to check out their lesson at www.3trees.com/kids.

To find service times and locations, visit https://www.3trees.com/planyourvisit.