Jeremiah Buys a Field of Hope Preschool Lesson
Preschool lesson (ages 3–6, 20 minutes)
1. Welcome (3 min)
Sit in a circle, greet every child by name and show one thing from the story to touch.
2. The little story (5 min)
Teach the refrain first: “Jeremiah trusted the LORD.”
A big army from Babylon was all around Jerusalem. Nobody could get out. And Jeremiah the prophet was locked up in the court of the guard. That was a yard by the king’s house. The king did not like the messages Jeremiah brought from God.
Then the LORD spoke to Jeremiah. God told him that his cousin Hanamel would come. Hanamel would say, “Buy my field that is in Anathoth.” Anathoth was Jeremiah’s home town. It was a little town near Jerusalem.
In Israel, a family field should stay in the family. When someone had to sell his field, a cousin could buy it. Then the field still belonged to the family.
And just as God said, Hanamel came. “Please buy my field that is in Anathoth,” he said. Then Jeremiah knew that this was the LORD’s word. Jeremiah trusted the LORD.
But wait! Why buy a field now? The enemy army was right outside. Soon they would take the land. Who would buy a field at a time like this? What do you think Jeremiah did?
Jeremiah did what God said. He weighed out seventeen pieces of silver on a scale. In those days people did not use paper money. They weighed the silver. Clink, clink! Can you count out some pretend silver pieces?
Then Jeremiah signed the deed. A deed is a paper that says who owns the field. Other people watched and signed it too. There were two papers. One was closed with a seal. One was open. Let’s count them: one, two! Jeremiah trusted the LORD.
Jeremiah gave the papers to his helper Baruch. Everyone in the yard could see it. Jeremiah told Baruch what God said. “Put them in an earthen vessel, that they may last many days.” An earthen vessel is a clay jar. The papers would be safe there for a long time.
Then God told why. “Houses and fields and vineyards will yet again be bought in this land.” Vineyards are gardens full of grapes. One day, the people would come home! They would buy fields and plant grapes again. Jeremiah trusted the LORD.
Jeremiah prayed, “Ah Lord GOD! You have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for you.” Can you stretch out your arm, strong and wide?
He prayed, “You show loving kindness to thousands.” Loving kindness is God’s love that never stops.
And the LORD answered, “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for me?” Nothing is too hard for God!
God promised, “I will bring on them all the good that I have promised them.” He said that people would buy fields again. They would sign the papers and call people to watch, just like Jeremiah did.
A field in a time of trouble was a sign of hope. Hope means waiting for something good that God has promised.
God keeps his promises, even in hard times. Jeremiah trusted the LORD.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- Why do you think God asked Jeremiah to buy a field when the army was outside?
- What would you like to plant in your own field?
4. Move (3 min)
Refrain Freeze: move around the room; when you say the refrain, everyone freezes and says it together.
5. Make (4 min)
Draw the clay jar, and the field that will be planted again one day.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“Is there anything too hard for me?” — Jeremiah 32:27 (anything → spread your arms wide; too hard → make strong arms; for me → point up)
Dear God, nothing is too hard for you. Thank you that you keep your promises. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: Hope When Things Look Hard
Memory verse: “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for me?” — Jeremiah 32:27 · WEB
The Bible story
When soldiers surrounded the city and everything looked lost, God asked Jeremiah to buy a field, a sign that happy days would surely come again.
Talk about it
- In which town was Hanamel's field? — In Anathoth
- What was happening near the city of Jerusalem? — A strong army had come
- Who came to visit Jeremiah, just as God said? — His cousin Hanamel
- What did Hanamel want Jeremiah to buy? — A field
- What did Jeremiah pay with? — Pieces of silver
- What did Jeremiah do after buying the field? — He signed the paper
Where is Jesus in this story?
Jeremiah bought a field while an enemy army surrounded Jerusalem, because God promised his people would come home again. On the night before he died, Jesus made a promise to his worried friends: “I am going there to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2–3). Even in the darkest hour, Jesus pointed to a home with God that no army can ever take away.
What God wants to tell us
Jeremiah bought a field even when everything around him looked scary and sad. He did it because he trusted that God had a good plan, even one he could not see yet. God shows us that He never forgets His people and He always keeps His promises. When our days feel dark or worrying, we can hold on to hope, because the same loving God who cared for Jeremiah is caring for us too. Nothing is ever too hard for Him.
Prayer
Father God, thank You that nothing is ever too hard for You. When I feel worried or scared, help me to trust You like Jeremiah did. Thank You that You always keep Your promises and Your love never gives up on me. Please fill my heart with hope today. Amen.
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