 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.” Comments are closed.
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