For Kids · 3 min with a grown-up
A great and powerful kingdom is growing far away. And back home, God's people keep wandering a little farther from Him each year.
Today's Story
Far away, a kingdom named Babylon was growing very big and very strong. Its king, Nebuchadnezzar, was powerful, and everyone knew his name.
Back in God's own land, things were not going well. After good King Josiah, the kings who came next forgot the lessons he had taught. One by one, they turned away from God and did what was wrong in His eyes. Each king drifted a little farther.
It's a bit like wandering off on a walk. You take one small step off the path, then another, then another - and before long you're far from where you should be. That's what happened to God's people. Step by step, they slipped away from Him.
This is a sad part of the story. But even here, God had not forgotten His people, and He had not stopped loving them. He kept calling them, the way a parent keeps calling a child who has wandered too far: “Come back. Come home to Me.”
Little driftings add up. That's why, each day, it's good to turn our hearts back toward God - and stay close.
A Big Word
Talk About It
- Have you ever wandered a little too far from a grown-up at a store or a park? How did it feel, and how did you find your way back?
- The kings drifted from God one small step at a time. What are some small things that help us stay close to God every day?
- Even when the people wandered, God kept calling them home. What does that tell us about how much God loves us?