Jeremiah 40:1 – 45:5 (Continued)

December 01, 2011

Notice they kept saying, "The LORD your God" and not the LORD our God. Jeremiah replied and said, "I understand what you want me to do." I will pray as you have asked and I will tell you everything He says. I will not hide anything from you. The people replied, "May the LORD be a true and loyal witness against us if we don't do everything the LORD your God sends you to tell us. It does not matter if we like the message or not. We will obey the LORD our God, to whom we are sending you. We will obey what he says so good things will happen to us." (Jeremiah 42:5-6)

Wow! Things are looking up. It appears they are finally ready to surrender ALL to "our" LORD, no matter what! Finally! It looks like they "get it." But sadly, we will soon find out that isn't the case. Ten days. Just ten days later God spoke to Jeremiah. I suspect those ten days felt like an eternity to the people, because when Jeremiah told them God's answer it is obvious they had already decided not to listen. They went from "we'll do what God says," to we will be our own boss and do what we want... in just ten days time. Such hope for a true change of heart and mind, gone in ten days. Here is what God told Jeremiah to tell them:

If you stay in Judah:

• I will build you up
• I will not tear you down
• I will plant you
• I will not pull you up
• I am sad about the trouble I have brought you
• Don't be afraid of the King of Babylon
• (He said again) Don't be afraid of him
• I am with you (CF - Isaiah 41:10)
• I will save you from his power (deliver you)
• I will be kind to you (compassion)
• He (the King of Babylon) will treat you with mercy and let you stay in your land

But if you say, "We will not stay in Judah," you will be disobeying the LORD. You might think, "We will go and live in Egypt," there we will be safe from war and hunger. IF you say that, then this is what the LORD All-Powerful the God of Israel says.

If you make up you mind to go to Egypt, this will happen:

• You are afraid of war—but it will find you
• You fear the sword—it will overtake you
• You are worried about hunger—it will follow you
• You dread famine—you won't get away from it
• Everyone who goes to Egypt will die in hunger, war, or disease
• No one will escape the terrible things I will send

Then God recounts what He did (and what they saw Him do) to the people of Jerusalem when they refused to surrender. He lets them know the same will happen to them if they are determined to go against his Word. Strong words, very clearly told. Jeremiah then makes sure they understand the seriousness of their decision.

"...the LORD has told you, 'Don't go to Egypt'. Be sure you understand this: I warn you today that you are making a mistake that will cause your deaths. You sent me to the LORD your God, saying, 'Pray to the LORD our God for us. Tell us everything the LORD our God says, and we will do it.' So today I have told you, but you have not obeyed the LORD your God in all that he sent me to tell you. So now be sure you understand this: You want to go to live in Egypt, but you will die there by war, hunger, or terrible diseases." Jeremiah 42:19-22

Jeremiah finished telling them all God said. Only ten day had passed! But during that time they had already made up their minds. They would be in control; they would be in charge; they would decide. There was no reason to wait around on what Jeremiah said.

God tells us why they refused to listen. It was because they "were too proud." (Jeremiah 43:2) So they decided Jeremiah was lying. They refused to believe God said not to go to Egypt. They were sure others were plotting against them to harm them. They... they... they... too proud to listen to what God said. So Johanan and the people disobeyed the LORD's command to stay in Judah.

These were the people who ran to other countries to escape the Babylonians, came back to live in Judah and were now running away again. They refused to listen to the LORD.  


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