Haggai, Prophet to Judah

Haggai 1-2

Thank you for continuing this journey of The Gospel Project^® for Kids. At last! God’s people returned to Jerusalem, the home of their ancestors. Many of God’s people had been born in Babylon, and life in exile was the only reality they knew. Life in Judah wasn’t exactly what they had imagined. It was difficult. Their national wealth was gone. The work of rebuilding the temple and the city of Jerusalem was hard. The land was desolate, and crops failed. Their neighbors opposed their efforts. (See Ezra 4:6,11-16.)

God’s people were disappointed and discouraged. Their enemies forced them to stop building and, rather than fight them, God’s people gave up. The temple of the Lord sat unfinished for 16 years. If that was what God wanted, wouldn’t He make it easier for them? (See Haggai 1:2.) The prophet Haggai stepped onto the scene and brought words from the Lord, commanding them to finish the work they started. God promised to fill the temple with His glory, and comforted His weary people with this promise: “I will provide peace in this place” (Haggai 2:7,9).

God’s people struggled to do what God wanted them to do. God chose Zerubbabel, who was a descendant of King David and an earthly ancestor of Jesus, to help the people finish the temple. Many years later, God would send His Son, Jesus, to do His will. Jesus died and rose again to free us from sin so that we, too, can do what God wants us to do.