Session 24 Israel in Exile

In 722 BC, the Northern Kingdom of Israel was conquered by Assyria and scattered in exile. The Southern Kingdom of Israel was conquered by Babylon >100 years later and the people were exiled to Babylon.

Judah's people were deported to Babylon in 3 waves, in 605 BC, 597 BC and 587 BC. Jerusalem as well as the temple was destroyed. Even though the Jews had left the holy land, God continued to be with them in exile.

One of the young men exiled to Babylon in the first wave was Daniel. Read a story on Daniel (Daniel 1-7) or watch the following video.

Video 1: Daniel in Babylon

Source: Crossroad Kids' Club on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY0pARvYcyw

Daniel and his friends had to follow new customs and laws in Babylon. How did they stay faithful to God?

Daniel and his friends (who were all from the tribe of Judah) refused to eat the royal food, as it was against God's law. They asked the attendant to feed them only vegetables, and they grew stronger than the men who ate the royal food.

God blessed Daniel with wisdom and the the ability to interpret dreams. He impressed the king and became his special advisor.

The king later built a gold statue of himself, which everyone had to bow down to. Daniel's friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, refused to do so, and were thrown into a furnace to be punished. However, an angel of God protected them from the flames and they were unharmed.

During King Darius's reign, Daniel continued to pray to God even though it was against the law. Daniel was sent into a lion's den as punishment, but God protected him and he emerged unharmed.

Daniel chose to serve and obey God no matter the consequences, and in doing so he glorified God to the rulers of Babylon.

Have you ever found it difficult to do the right thing? Or to show your love for God in front of others? It's difficult sometimes! How can we find courage to do so?

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Prophet Ezekiel was sent to exile Babylon in the second wave of deportation. While he was in Babylon, God gave a message of hope to bring to his people:

Video 2: Prophet Ezekiel and the Valley of the Dry Bones (Ezekiel 37)

What does God show Ezekiel, which gives hope to the Jews?

God asked Ezekiel to bring back a message of hope to the Jewish people, that he had not forgotten them and would restore them to Israel one day.

He showed Ezekiel a vision of a valley of dry bones. The bones represent the Jewish people, whose hope is gone and are cut off from the mother land. God promised to breath life into them again, and to bring them back to the land of Israel. When it happened, they would know that it was the Lord who had brought them back.

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The Jewish people would be in exile in Babylon for 70 years. During their exile, they had time to repent and remember all the things which God had done for them in the past, and to look forward to the day when they would be able to return home.

In the next session, we will see how God keeps his promises, and bring his people back to Jerusalem.