God gave the people of Israel the land of Israel in the hopes that they would turn to Him. Instead, they were embarrassed and ashamed, and they looked everywhere else except to God. God begs them to come back, be proud of your special heritage, turn back to Me, I will heal you.

The Northern kingdom has been destroyed, but God tells his prophet to ask the remnants of the people to come rejoin their brothers in Judah. My divorce was not final! But the people of Judah did not learn the lessons they should have from what happened to their Northern brothers, they continued to live in hypocrisy. However, one day, the entire world will learn of God, the entire world will shed their hypocrisy and serve God together.

God compares His relationship to the people of Israel to that between a husband and wife. If the wife rebels and then goes to another, can she ever come back? God points out to the people that they CAN reconcile, if only they recognize their evil ways. Without this, He will not wait forever.

God continues to critcize the people of Israel for constantly looking everywhere except to God. Imitating the evil ways of their neighbors to try and gain their favor, instead of pride in themselves and the true God. Worst of all, they still refuse to admit they've done anything wrong.

God continues to lament how His children, the one's He treated so well, have now rebelled against him. Now God has unleashed the roaring lions of Assyria, Egypt and others against them. Your prayers and repentance will not help you if you don't recognize your sins first. stop running aimlessly like a young untrained camel. Think about your ways, and then return to Me.

God recalls the youthful passion with which the covenant between God and His people was made. Unfortunately, the people did not appreciate God, and instead of seeking closeness with God, they turned to worship worthless and useless gods. All the nations of the world appreciate theior unique traditions and what makes them special, but the poeple of Judah, who have the most special heritage of all, traded it for nothing. It is a double evil, you didn't appreciate Me, and then you turned elsewhere.

God gives jeremiah his first vision, an almond branch and a burning cauldron. I am serious about this, and it is coming soon from the North. A disaster is about to befall the people, and they are not going to like your message. Don't be afraid, I will be with you, God promises Jeremiah. However, your task will not be easy.

Jeremiah's call to prophecy. I have known you since before you were born, says God to Jeremiah. You have what it takes to be a prophet to the nations of the world. So don't be afraid, remember that I will be with you, and speak My words to the people.

We introduce the prophet Jeremiah, a prophet of resilience, hope, love for his people and devotion. Although he is known for his prophecies of destruction, he is most remarkable for his never ending devotion to his mission and God. He represents the moments of despair that we all feel when we see failure and suffering, but only those who follow in his path get up and keep on going. Jeremiah logically follows Zephaniah who was both his contemporary, and also likely his mentor.

God turns to Israel and promises that He will bring them back to Jerusalem, but He will rid the people of the arrogant and dishonest among them. Israel will be a humble, modest and honest nation. A nation so beloved by the nations of the world, that all will look to Israel and declare their love for their God and accept Him as their God as well. "Don't be afraid anymore," they will say, "God is with you."