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Jeremiah 40 · Grade 5

Choosing the Remnant

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Read and Think

Jeremiah 40 opens with Jeremiah in chains at Ramah, swept up with the captives. Nebuzaradan freed him and gave a speech that sounds almost like a prophet's. Yahweh your God pronounced this evil on this place; and Yahweh has brought it. A pagan officer saw what Judah's own leaders had refused to see. He offered Jeremiah protection in Babylon or freedom to go wherever he chose.

Jeremiah chose to stay with the remnant at Mizpah under Gedaliah, the grandson of Shaphan, whose family had protected Jeremiah before. Gedaliah's policy matched Jeremiah's message: serve the king of Babylon, and it will be well with you. Refugees streamed back, and the land produced wine and summer fruits in great abundance. After judgment, God was giving a taste of mercy and a chance to rebuild.

Yet the peace was fragile. Johanan reported that Baalis, king of the Ammonites, had hired Ishmael son of Nethaniah, a member of the royal family, to assassinate Gedaliah. Johanan offered to strike first. Gedaliah refused, saying the report was false. His goodwill was admirable but naive. The chapter shows a remnant on the edge of renewal, and how quickly that hope could be threatened.

Show What You Know

  1. What did Nebuzaradan recognize that Judah's leaders had refused to see?

  2. How was Gedaliah's family connected to Jeremiah?

  3. What was Gedaliah's policy?

  4. Who had hired Ishmael to assassinate Gedaliah?

Crossword

31452

Across

  1. And serve the king of ____.
  2. They and their men came to Gedaliah to ____.
  3. To Gedaliah the son of ____.

Down

  1. They and their men came to ____ to Mizpah.
  2. And of the poorest of the ____.

Think About It

  1. What does Jeremiah's choice to stay with the remnant reveal about his heart?

  2. How can a person be both trusting and wise when warned of danger?

Memory Verse

Now, behold, I release you today from the chains which are on your hand. If it seems good to you to come with me into Babylon, come, and I will take care of you; but if it seems bad to you to come with me into Babylon, don’t. Behold, all the land is before you. Where it seems good and right to you to go, go there.”

Jeremiah 40:4 (WEB)

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Prayer

Dear God, thank You for being with me wherever I go. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • How can you help someone?
  • What gift has God given you?
  • What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.