I. GOD KNEW THE STATE OF THE WORLD
Jeremiah 21:2 (KJV)

II. GOD KNEW THE CONDITION OF JERUSALEM
Jeremiah 2:5-13 (KJV)
Humble yourselves before God and submit to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake.
Obey the laws as best as you understand them

III. GOD KNEW THEY NEEDED SURRENDER
Jeremiah 38:17-18 (KJV)
God knew,
A. It would disrupt their way of life
Everything they had ever know would change.
B. It would destroy their cherished temple
At least in the sense of them worshiping there.
C. It would be for a determined time
D. It would reset their spiritual direction
The Jews did return to Jerusalem seventy years after they were captured.

But life was different.

(A clarification. I misspoke when I said they prayed toward the east which was toward Jerusalem. They were taught to pray toward Jerusalem but that is not toward the East.
1 Kings 8:48-49 (KJV)
48  And so return unto thee with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their enemies, which led them away captive, and pray unto thee toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, the city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name:
49  Then hear thou their prayer and their supplication in heaven thy dwelling place, and maintain their cause,
Daniel 6:10 (KJV)
10  Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.)