Have you ever moved to a new house or a new city? What was difficult or exciting about moving to a new place? Think about where you currently live. What makes your home feel like home?
The Israelites considered Jerusalem their home. But the Babylonians forced them into exile, which means they were forced to leave Jerusalem and live in Babylon for many, many years. This was really hard because the Israelites wished to be back in Jerusalem where they could worship God in their temple. Thankfully, there was a prophet named Jeremiah. God told Jeremiah to send a message to the exiles, those who were held captive in Babylon. God told them to build houses and plant gardens and grow their families in Babylon. Even though the Israelites were far from their home, God was with them and helped them to make a new and good home while they were in exile.
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