For Kids · 3 min with a grown-up
After a hard time, a kind leader named Gedaliah was helping the people who were left. But not everyone wanted peace.
Today's Story
A kind man named Gedaliah was looking after the people who still lived in the land. He told them, “Stay here. Plant your gardens. It will be alright.” For a little while, things felt calm again.
One day a man named Ishmael came to share a meal with Gedaliah. He smiled and acted like a friend. But Ishmael had an angry, jealous heart, and he did a very bad thing. He hurt Gedaliah and some of the people there. It was wrong, and it made everyone afraid.
Then Ishmael took a whole group of families — mothers, fathers, and children — and started marching them away. They did not want to go. They were scared and far from home.
But a brave leader named Johanan heard what had happened. He gathered his men and hurried after Ishmael as fast as he could. When the captured families saw Johanan coming to help, they were so glad! They ran to him. Ishmael slipped away, but the families were free.
Johanan gathered all those tired, frightened people close, like a shepherd gathering his sheep. They were safe now. God had not forgotten them, even on a very hard day.
A Big Word
Talk About It
- Johanan ran to help people who were scared. Who is someone you can run to when you feel afraid?
- Ishmael pretended to be a friend but had a mean heart. How can you tell if someone is a real, kind friend?
- Even on a hard day, God saw the people who were hurting. How does it feel to know God always sees you, even when you are sad?