The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the nations.
2 About Egypt. Concerning the army of Pharaoh Neco, king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates at Carchemish and which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon defeated in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: 3 “Prepare buckler and shield, and advance for battle! 4 Harness the horses; mount, O horsemen! Take your stations with your helmets, polish your spears, put on your armor! 5 Why have I seen it? They are dismayed and have turned backward. Their warriors are beaten down and have fled in haste; they look not back-- terror on every side! declares the Lord. 6 “The swift cannot flee away, nor the warrior escape; in the north by the river Euphrates they have stumbled and fallen. 7 “Who is this, rising like the Nile, like rivers whose waters surge? 8 Egypt rises like the Nile, like rivers whose waters surge. He said, ‘I will rise, I will cover the earth, I will destroy cities and their inhabitants.’ 9 Advance, O horses, and rage, O chariots! Let the warriors go out: men of Cush and Put who handle the shield, men of Lud, skilled in handling the bow. 10 That day is the day of the Lord God of hosts, a day of vengeance, to avenge himself on his foes. The sword shall devour and be sated and drink its fill of their blood. For the Lord God of hosts holds a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates. 11 Go up to Gilead, and take balm, O virgin daughter of Egypt! In vain you have used many medicines; there is no healing for you. 12 The nations have heard of your shame, and the earth is full of your cry; for warrior has stumbled against warrior; they have both fallen together.” 13 The word that the Lord spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about the coming of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to strike the land of Egypt: 14 “Declare in Egypt, and proclaim in Migdol; proclaim in Memphis and Tahpanhes; say, ‘Stand ready and be prepared, for the sword shall devour around you.’ 15 Why are your mighty ones face down? They do not stand because the Lord thrust them down. 16 He made many stumble, and they fell, and they said one to another, ‘Arise, and let us go back to our own people and to the land of our birth, because of the sword of the oppressor.’ 17 Call the name of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, ‘Noisy one who lets the hour go by.’ 18 “As I live, declares the King, whose name is the Lord of hosts, like Tabor among the mountains and like Carmel by the sea, shall one come. 19 Prepare yourselves baggage for exile, O inhabitants of Egypt! For Memphis shall become a waste, a ruin, without inhabitant. 20 “A beautiful heifer is Egypt, but a biting fly from the north has come upon her. 21 Even her hired soldiers in her midst are like fattened calves; yes, they have turned and fled together; they did not stand, for the day of their calamity has come upon them, the time of their punishment. 22 “She makes a sound like a serpent gliding away; for her enemies march in force and come against her with axes like those who fell trees. 23 They shall cut down her forest, declares the Lord, though it is impenetrable, because they are more numerous than locusts; they are without number. 24 The daughter of Egypt shall be put to shame; she shall be delivered into the hand of a people from the north.” 25 The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, said: “Behold, I am bringing punishment upon Amon of Thebes, and Pharaoh and Egypt and her gods and her kings, upon Pharaoh and those who trust in him. 26 I will deliver them into the hand of those who seek their life, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and his officers. Afterward Egypt shall be inhabited as in the days of old, declares the Lord. 27 “But fear not, O Jacob my servant, nor be dismayed, O Israel, for behold, I will save you from far away, and your offspring from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease, and none shall make him afraid. 28 Fear not, O Jacob my servant, declares the Lord, for I am with you. I will make a full end of all the nations to which I have driven you, but of you I will not make a full end. I will discipline you in just measure, and I will by no means leave you unpunished.” Meditation “As dogs return to their vomit, so a fool returns to his folly” (Proverbs 26:11). Fallen hearts return to what formally held us captive, hoping for freedom only the Lord can give. God’s sovereign grace clearly communicates that countries and counterfeit gods which contend with God will be conquered by His judgement, but all who hope in the Lord will be saved. God’s prophet was appointed over nations and kingdoms, called to plant and uproot, to tear down and build up (1:10). The series of prophecies concluding the book eventually cover every nation boarding Israel, beginning with a focus on Egypt, and captures Jeremiah’s call by contrasting judgement and hope. Jeremiah was taken captive to Egypt (chapter 43), the country from which God had redeemed His people (Exodus 12). Now the prophet proclaims the eventual conquering of the country as another judgement from God (focusing on the leaders 25-26). God’s faithful grace offers hope through His judgement for all who trust in Him for salvation (27-28). The familiarities of the life we lived before we were saved by Jesus will not provide the sanctity for which our hearts are hungering. God alone is our refuge and strength and the gods we trust that are not Him will one day be swept away by His judgment as the waters of the flood formerly cleansed the earth (Genesis 6). Hope is anchored in God’s promises, “I will save you from far away!” (27) fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus. Our Savior took the judgement our sin deserves so we can have a hope that endures. Richly Dwelling -What stands out to you about the contrast of promised judgement on Egypt and the hope offered to all who trust in the Lord for salvation? -Where do you look for hope outside of the Lord? Is there continuity from sin struggles of your past, where you look for strength in struggles today (as Judah returned to Egypt for security)? If so, where? -Jesus took the judgement we deserve so we can have a hope that endures. Take a moment to diagnose your heart’s hope and intentionally anchor it in the promises and person of Jesus (with specificity). Do not return to places of former slavery looking for strength! Hope in the Lord! Key Verse 25 The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, said: “Behold, I am bringing punishment upon Amon of Thebes, and Pharaoh and Egypt and her gods and her kings, upon Pharaoh and those who trust in him…. 27 “But fear not, O Jacob my servant, nor be dismayed, O Israel, for behold, I will save you from far away, and your offspring from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease, and none shall make him afraid. The word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah, when he wrote these words in a book at the dictation of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: 2 “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to you, O Baruch:3 You said, ‘Woe is me! For the Lord has added sorrow to my pain. I am weary with my groaning, and I find no rest.’ 4 Thus shall you say to him, Thus says the Lord: Behold, what I have built I am breaking down, and what I have planted I am plucking up—that is, the whole land. 5 And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not, for behold, I am bringing disaster upon all flesh, declares the Lord. But I will give you your life as a prize of war in all places to which you may go.”
Meditation God’s sovereign plan offers disciples eternal significance and solid joy. In Christ, God has prepared work for Christians to do (Ephesians 2:10). Grace invites us to discover God’s eternal agenda as our ambition and not our earthly ambition as God’s agenda. Baruch is an important unimportant person. Baruch was Jeremiah’s loyal scribe who does triple duty in chapter 36 (writing and then re-writing the scroll before hiding Jeremiah at the risk of his own life) and faithfully stays with Jeremiah when confined to the courtyard of the king (32). Baruch was loyal as a scribe but apparently had ambition to do “great things” (5). Ambition is not bad when godly, in line with God’s will. But Baruch’s ambition was out of touch with reality as Babylon was taking Jerusalem into captivity. God takes Baruch’s ambition and sets it within context of His global agenda: Judgement is coming, but I will preserve your life (5). God’s grace does not condemn Baruch but shows compassion and assures the scribe of his protection. Baruch was an essential part of God’s plan to preserve and proclaim God’s word and protect God’s prophet, but he was not content. The scribe desired more, but God reminded Baruch of His sovereignty and mercy. When we desire “great things” from our life and leadership we must discern if our ambition is truly God’s agenda. Only God’s work will remain after the final judgement (1 Corinthians 3:12-15) and only God’s agenda will bring full joy today (Psalm 40:8). Richly Dwelling -Where do you identify with Baruch, wanting to do “great things” in your life and leadership? -Why is it important to have your ambition align with God’s agenda? -How can you respond to God’s grace by making space to discern what work God has prepared in advance for you to do? Key Verse 5 And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not… The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Judeans who lived in the land of Egypt, at Migdol, at Tahpanhes, at Memphis, and in the land of Pathros, 2 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: You have seen all the disaster that I brought upon Jerusalem and upon all the cities of Judah. Behold, this day they are a desolation, and no one dwells in them, 3 because of the evil that they committed, provoking me to anger, in that they went to make offerings and serve other gods that they knew not, neither they, nor you, nor your fathers. 4 Yet I persistently sent to you all my servants the prophets, saying, ‘Oh, do not do this abomination that I hate!’ 5 But they did not listen or incline their ear, to turn from their evil and make no offerings to other gods.6 Therefore my wrath and my anger were poured out and kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, and they became a waste and a desolation, as at this day.7 And now thus says the Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel: Why do you commit this great evil against yourselves, to cut off from you man and woman, infant and child, from the midst of Judah, leaving you no remnant? 8 Why do you provoke me to anger with the works of your hands, making offerings to other gods in the land of Egypt where you have come to live, so that you may be cut off and become a curse and a taunt among all the nations of the earth? 9 Have you forgotten the evil of your fathers, the evil of the kings of Judah, the evil of their wives, your own evil, and the evil of your wives, which they committed in the land of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 10 They have not humbled themselves even to this day, nor have they feared, nor walked in my law and my statutes that I set before you and before your fathers.
11 “Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will set my face against you for harm, to cut off all Judah. 12 I will take the remnant of Judah who have set their faces to come to the land of Egypt to live, and they shall all be consumed. In the land of Egypt they shall fall; by the sword and by famine they shall be consumed. From the least to the greatest, they shall die by the sword and by famine, and they shall become an oath, a horror, a curse, and a taunt. 13 I will punish those who dwell in the land of Egypt, as I have punished Jerusalem, with the sword, with famine, and with pestilence, 14 so that none of the remnant of Judah who have come to live in the land of Egypt shall escape or survive or return to the land of Judah, to which they desire to return to dwell there. For they shall not return, except some fugitives.” 15 Then all the men who knew that their wives had made offerings to other gods, and all the women who stood by, a great assembly, all the people who lived in Pathros in the land of Egypt, answered Jeremiah: 16 “As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord, we will not listen to you. 17 But we will do everything that we have vowed, make offerings to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her, as we did, both we and our fathers, our kings and our officials, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For then we had plenty of food, and prospered, and saw no disaster. 18 But since we left off making offerings to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have been consumed by the sword and by famine.” 19 And the women said,[b] “When we made offerings to the queen of heaven and poured out drink offerings to her, was it without our husbands' approval that we made cakes for her bearing her image and poured out drink offerings to her?” 20 Then Jeremiah said to all the people, men and women, all the people who had given him this answer: 21 “As for the offerings that you offered in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, you and your fathers, your kings and your officials, and the people of the land, did not the Lord remember them? Did it not come into his mind? 22 The Lord could no longer bear your evil deeds and the abominations that you committed. Therefore your land has become a desolation and a waste and a curse, without inhabitant, as it is this day. 23 It is because you made offerings and because you sinned against the Lord and did not obey the voice of the Lord or walk in his law and in his statutes and in his testimonies that this disaster has happened to you, as at this day.” 24 Jeremiah said to all the people and all the women, “Hear the word of the Lord, all you of Judah who are in the land of Egypt. 25 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: You and your wives have declared with your mouths, and have fulfilled it with your hands, saying, ‘We will surely perform our vows that we have made, to make offerings to the queen of heaven and to pour out drink offerings to her.’ Then confirm your vows and perform your vows! 26 Therefore hear the word of the Lord, all you of Judah who dwell in the land of Egypt: Behold, I have sworn by my great name, says the Lord, that my name shall no more be invoked by the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, ‘As the Lord God lives.’ 27 Behold, I am watching over them for disaster and not for good. All the men of Judah who are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by famine, until there is an end of them. 28 And those who escape the sword shall return from the land of Egypt to the land of Judah, few in number; and all the remnant of Judah, who came to the land of Egypt to live, shall know whose word will stand, mine or theirs. 29 This shall be the sign to you, declares the Lord, that I will punish you in this place, in order that you may know that my words will surely stand against you for harm: 30 Thus says the Lord, Behold, I will give Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies and into the hand of those who seek his life, as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, who was his enemy and sought his life.” Meditation Brazen disobedience serves to shine a spotlight on the Lord’s steadfast love. Scripture is unique communicating the sin of people because it is centered on revealing God’s covenant love. Sins of Adam, Abraham, Noah, Moses, David, Paul… are the backdrop to the amazing truth of the gospel: There is no condemnation in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:1)… and nothing can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29-39). Jeremiah’s last word to “all the Jews in Egypt” included a historical review (2-6), specific judgement (7-10), and final verdict (11-14): Those who reject God, His word, and His ways are destined for God’s wrath. God’s mercy offers another invitation to a people who have rejected Him and His word. Brazen disobedience jumps out of today’s reading and the narrative reads like a dysfunctional meeting. The brazen disobedience is oddly familiar. They claim rebellion again and again- We want to worship the gods of Egypt! As much as I want to distance myself from this ridiculous scene, I believe I should identify. I too brazenly disobey God. Redemption, rather than rebellion, is the center of God’s story. God’s amazing love is this: while we were brazen in disobedience to Him, Christ died for us. Richly Dwelling -What jumps out to you from today’s reading? -Where do you identify with the brazen disobedience of the people, rejecting God and His word (it may help to read verse 16 again)? -Rebellion is not the end of the story- Redemption is. Scripture never ends with people rejecting God! Jesus is the center and offers opportunity for people to recognize rebellion, repent, receive forgiveness, and begin again. Take a moment to welcome God’s gracious invitation by returning to God’s grace in Jesus. Be specific. Key Verse 16 “As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord, we will not listen to you. When Jeremiah finished speaking to all the people all these words of the Lord their God, with which the Lord their God had sent him to them, 2 Azariah the son of Hoshaiah and Johanan the son of Kareah and all the insolent men said to Jeremiah, “You are telling a lie. The Lord our God did not send you to say, ‘Do not go to Egypt to live there,’ 3 but Baruch the son of Neriah has set you against us, to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they may kill us or take us into exile in Babylon.” 4 So Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces and all the people did not obey the voice of the Lord, to remain in the land of Judah.5 But Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces took all the remnant of Judah who had returned to live in the land of Judah from all the nations to which they had been driven— 6 the men, the women, the children, the princesses, and every person whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan; also Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch the son of Neriah. 7 And they came into the land of Egypt, for they did not obey the voice of the Lord. And they arrived at Tahpanhes.
8 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah in Tahpanhes:9 “Take in your hands large stones and hide them in the mortar in the pavement that is at the entrance to Pharaoh's palace in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah, 10 and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and I will set his throne above these stones that I have hidden, and he will spread his royal canopy over them. 11 He shall come and strike the land of Egypt, giving over to the pestilence those who are doomed to the pestilence, to captivity those who are doomed to captivity, and to the sword those who are doomed to the sword. 12 I shall kindle a fire in the temples of the gods of Egypt, and he shall burn them and carry them away captive. And he shall clean the land of Egypt as a shepherd cleans his cloak of vermin, and he shall go away from there in peace. 13 He shall break the obelisks of Heliopolis, which is in the land of Egypt, and the temples of the gods of Egypt he shall burn with fire.’” Meditation Welcoming God’s word and work will restore. Rejecting God’s word and work will ruin. God desires to reveal Himself through His word and work. Jeremiah proved this by speaking God’s word to the remnant remaining in Judah. Rather than believe God’s word and remain in Judah for rest and rejuvenation, the people rejected God’s word and condemned Jeremiah as a false prophet. Fear and feelings directed the discernment to reject God’s word- a recipe for ruin. The “insolent men” called Jeremiah a “liar!” (seqer), the exact word Jeremiah repeatedly called the false prophets. Rejecting God’s word, the people returned to Egypt where their forefathers had been slaves (1-7). Tahpanhes was a city in the NE corner of the Nile Delta and the place of the prophet’s final visual prophecy. Jeremiah laid stones promising Babylon’s throne would rule over the space. In 567 BC this prophecy became reality (Ezekiel 29:17-20), proving the prophet’s authenticity. The people’s desire to reject God’s word led to the ruin of being conquered by Babylon. All of us identify with the “insolent” people who rejected the word of the prophet. From God’s great love, Jesus gave Himself to be conquered by the Roman empire, killed on the cross for insolent people like you and me, so that God’s righteousness can be imputed through faith. The work of Jesus gives grace for believers to return from ruin resulting from rejecting God’s word, to be restored through renewed relationship with Him. Jesus gives us a new opportunity to find restoration in God’s revelation! Richly Dwelling -What stands out to you about the rejection of God’s word and the promised ruin to follow? -Where do you identify with the “insolent men” who called Jeremiah a liar? This is to ask, where do you reject God’s word and exchange His truth for lies of our culture? -How can you respond to God’s grace through welcoming God’s word and the restoration that is promised to follow? Be specific. Key Verse 2 Azariah the son of Hoshaiah and Johanan the son of Kareah and all the insolent men said to Jeremiah, “You are telling a lie. The Lord our God did not send you to say, ‘Do not go to Egypt to live there,’ Then all the commanders of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least to the greatest, came near 2 and said to Jeremiah the prophet, “Let our plea for mercy come before you, and pray to the Lord your God for us, for all this remnant—because we are left with but a few, as your eyes see us--3 that the Lord your God may show us the way we should go, and the thing that we should do.” 4 Jeremiah the prophet said to them, “I have heard you. Behold, I will pray to the Lord your God according to your request, and whatever the Lord answers you I will tell you. I will keep nothing back from you.”5 Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the Lord be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act according to all the word with which the Lord your God sends you to us.6 Whether it is good or bad, we will obey the voice of the Lord our God to whom we are sending you, that it may be well with us when we obey the voice of the Lord our God.”
7 At the end of ten days the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah. 8 Then he summoned Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces who were with him, and all the people from the least to the greatest, 9 and said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your plea for mercy before him: 10 If you will remain in this land, then I will build you up and not pull you down; I will plant you, and not pluck you up; for I relent of the disaster that I did to you. 11 Do not fear the king of Babylon, of whom you are afraid. Do not fear him, declares the Lord, for I am with you, to save you and to deliver you from his hand. 12 I will grant you mercy, that he may have mercy on you and let you remain in your own land. 13 But if you say, ‘We will not remain in this land,’ disobeying the voice of the Lord your God 14 and saying, ‘No, we will go to the land of Egypt, where we shall not see war or hear the sound of the trumpet or be hungry for bread, and we will dwell there,’ 15 then hear the word of the Lord, O remnant of Judah. Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: If you set your faces to enter Egypt and go to live there, 16 then the sword that you fear shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine of which you are afraid shall follow close after you to Egypt, and there you shall die. 17 All the men who set their faces to go to Egypt to live there shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence. They shall have no remnant or survivor from the disaster that I will bring upon them. 18 “For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: As my anger and my wrath were poured out on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so my wrath will be poured out on you when you go to Egypt. You shall become an execration, a horror, a curse, and a taunt. You shall see this place no more. 19 The Lord has said to you, O remnant of Judah, ‘Do not go to Egypt.’ Know for a certainty that I have warned you this day20 that you have gone astray at the cost of your lives. For you sent me to the Lord your God, saying, ‘Pray for us to the Lord our God, and whatever the Lord our God says, declare to us and we will do it.’ 21 And I have this day declared it to you, but you have not obeyed the voice of the Lord your God in anything that he sent me to tell you. 22 Now therefore know for a certainty that you shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence in the place where you desire to go to live.” Meditation God desires to strengthen willing spirits for endurance in difficult seasons and situations. During Jesus’ most dire moment He warned the spirit may be willing but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41). Because Christ endured, God’s sovereign grace offers what is needed to strengthen disciples through His word and Spirit, to sustain His people during difficult days. Spirits of the saints are willing, coming to the Word of the Lord for hope (6). The situation for the remnant was difficult, having been shattered by the Babylonian siege and shredded by domestic terrorism. The weary Judeans were refugees in their own country, longing for stability and security. Their hearts wanted to find hope in God’s word. Their flesh put more faith in their feelings. Ten days is how long Jeremiah took before returning with the Lord’s revelation, too long to give Judeans consolation. God promised protection and provision if they stayed! But they feared rather than receiving God’s word in faith. Egypt looked more safe and secure but walking by sight would not strengthen them to endure. Faith in God’s word is far more secure than fear we feed on, no matter how we feel. Jesus endured the suffering and scorn of the cross for the joy set before Him, namely restored covenant relationship with His people (Hebrews 12:1-2). Through Christ our spirits are strengthened by His presence, the promises of His word, and His Spirit within us. Our flesh is weak! We are prone to feed on fear. God’s grace is real and invites us to trust Him in faith. Richly Dwelling -Where do you identify with the Judean refugees, looking for hope in God’s word but not patient enough to truly hear the power of God’s promises? -When do you prioritize feelings in difficult circumstances over faith in God’s word- His presence and His promises? -What does it look like for you to fully trust in God’s promises rather than living fueled by fear? Name a situation you need faith more than fear and ask God’s Spirit to strengthen you with His word. Key Verse 6 Whether it is good or bad, we will obey the voice of the Lord our God to whom we are sending you, that it may be well with us when we obey the voice of the Lord our God.” In the seventh month, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, son of Elishama, of the royal family, one of the chief officers of the king, came with ten men to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, at Mizpah. As they ate bread together there at Mizpah, 2 Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and the ten men with him rose up and struck down Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, with the sword, and killed him, whom the king of Babylon had appointed governor in the land. 3 Ishmael also struck down all the Judeans who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah, and the Chaldean soldiers who happened to be there.
4 On the day after the murder of Gedaliah, before anyone knew of it, 5 eighty men arrived from Shechem and Shiloh and Samaria, with their beards shaved and their clothes torn, and their bodies gashed, bringing grain offerings and incense to present at the temple of the Lord. 6 And Ishmael the son of Nethaniah came out from Mizpah to meet them, weeping as he came. As he met them, he said to them, “Come in to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam.” 7 When they came into the city, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and the men with him slaughtered them and cast them into a cistern. 8 But there were ten men among them who said to Ishmael, “Do not put us to death, for we have stores of wheat, barley, oil, and honey hidden in the fields.” So he refrained and did not put them to death with their companions. 9 Now the cistern into which Ishmael had thrown all the bodies of the men whom he had struck down along with Gedaliah was the large cistern that King Asa had made for defense against Baasha king of Israel; Ishmael the son of Nethaniah filled it with the slain. 10 Then Ishmael took captive all the rest of the people who were in Mizpah, the king's daughters and all the people who were left at Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, had committed to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam. Ishmael the son of Nethaniah took them captive and set out to cross over to the Ammonites. 11 But when Johanan the son of Kareah and all the leaders of the forces with him heard of all the evil that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had done, 12 they took all their men and went to fight against Ishmael the son of Nethaniah. They came upon him at the great pool that is in Gibeon. 13 And when all the people who were with Ishmael saw Johanan the son of Kareah and all the leaders of the forces with him, they rejoiced. 14 So all the people whom Ishmael had carried away captive from Mizpah turned around and came back, and went to Johanan the son of Kareah. 15 But Ishmael the son of Nethaniah escaped from Johanan with eight men, and went to the Ammonites. 16 Then Johanan the son of Kareah and all the leaders of the forces with him took from Mizpah all the rest of the people whom he had recovered from Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, after he had struck down Gedaliah the son of Ahikam—soldiers, women, children, and eunuchs, whom Johanan brought back from Gibeon. 17 And they went and stayed at Geruth Chimham near Bethlehem, intending to go to Egypt 18 because of the Chaldeans. For they were afraid of them, because Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had struck down Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land. Meditation Jesus offers the only true hope when we have nowhere to turn and nowhere to hide. Jesus alone is the light we long for and the salvation we need. International Justice Mission rescues modern slaves and brings perpetrators to justice. One girl rescued from a brothel in Mumbai had been held captive for eight months. She prayed every day for rescue. Night after night men abused her, yet she continued to pray. She was mocked, yet she continued to pray. Psalm 27:1 was found by her mattress after her rescue: The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid? God desires for His children to turn our hope to Him, waiting patiently for the day of His salvation. Today’s difficult passage reveals that God’s people, when facing the darkest of days, turned to Egypt for refuge rather than calling on the name of the Lord (17). The painful reading must point us to Jesus. Ismael was an angry young man who took other angry young men to slaughter his own people. Survivors were taken hostage, threatened with attack from the Ammonites. Johanan rescued the huddled masses but, rather than turning to the Lord, the people turned their hope to Egypt. This dark narrative should cause us to turn to the Light of the World, Jesus Christ. Jesus is our light and salvation during the darkest days. Jesus is our only hope for salvation. Richly Dwelling -Today’s reading is difficult and dark, reminiscent of the days of the judges. What stands out to you about the darkness in the narrative? -Why did the people want to turn to Egypt? Why do we turn to people, places, and powers of the world for light and salvation during our darkest days? -Jesus is the Light of the World, conquering suffering and death through His work. How does God’s victory in Christ give you strength to trust in Him during your suffering and darkness? WHERE do you need to do this? Key Verse 17 And they went and stayed at Geruth Chimham near Bethlehem, intending to go to Egypt |
AuthorPastor Mitchell celebrates twenty-four years of marriage with Lisa and together they have four adventurous children. Mitchell is a pastor at First Presbyterian Church in San Antonio, TX. |