The Exile and the Return (Oct. 5th)

Season of the Church Year: Common Time “Great Green Growing” Season (Green)

Story in Scripture: Ezra 6: 12-22,  John 15:11

We continued our learning today about the people of God with a lesson about their exile from Jerusalem and their eventual return. It’s hard to imagine just how horrible it must have been for these people to see their beloved city taken over, their temple destroyed, and the protected walls of God’s special city knocked down. Women and men, young and old, rich and poor, were banished from their homes and all that they knew. Even though God was with them in Babylon, and in the journey their, it is devastating to consider how traumatic is must have been. In our discussion today, we spent a lot of time helping the kids to grasp the concept of separation from what is expected and known. God walks with us through places of confusion and disruption. Even Jesus’ disciples struggled to understand the reality of the passion, as it was so different than their expectations about what Jesus would do and how he would rule.  The story today concludes with the triumphant rebuilding of the Temple and wall around Jerusalem. From Ezra 6: “For seven days they celebrated with joy the Feast of Unleavened Bread, because the LORD had filled them with joy by changing the attitude of the king of Assyria, so that he assisted them in the work on the house of God, the God of Israel.” God walks alongside us when we are where we should be, and when we feel that we are in exile. When we return, our joy is even more wonderful because we know that God was with us even when we were far from home.  

Guiding Questions for Discussion:

I wonder what is was like to have to leave their home in Jerusalem? 

I wonder what it was like to live in Babylon? 

I wonder how they knew that God was with them? 

I wonder if God will show them a new way to live? 

I wonder what it was like to be back home, after being so far away for so long? 

Prayer: 
“Dear Lord, thank you for being with us, no matter what. We know that your story is a great big story... we are so glad to be a part of it. We know that you are with us when things go well and when things are very difficult. Remind us to pray and worship you in all times. Amen.”