A Warning to stay in Judah

JEREMIAH   CHAPTER 42

After the murder of Gedaliah, all the army officers, including Johanan and all the people from the least to greatest, approached Jeremiah the prophet. They asked him to pray to the Lord God for them. They asked him to have God show them what to do and where to go. Jeremiah agreed and said that he would tell them everything and not hide anything from them.

The people said that the Lord would be a faithful witness against them if they do not obey what he tells them to do. And whether they liked it or not, they would obey the Lord and everything would turn out well for them. It took ten days for the Lord to give a reply to Jeremiah, so Jeremiah called all the people together again to give them the Lord's response. The Lord asked them to stay in the land and if they would do so, he would build them up and not tear them down. He would plant them and not uproot them. For he was sorry for the punishment he had to bring upon the people. He further asked them to not fear the King of Babylon anymore. Because the Lord was with the people and would save them from the King's power. The Lord would be merciful to everyone by making the King kind enough to let everyone stay in their land.

But, the Lord said, if the people refused to obey the Lord God and say that they would not stay in the land, and go to live in Egypt, then the war, disease and famine they feared would follow them and they would die there. Thus would be the fate awaiting everyone who went to live in Egypt.

For the Lord Almighty, God of Israel said, "just as my anger and fury were poured out on the people of Jerusalem, so they will be poured out on you when you enter Egypt. You will become an object of damnation, horror, cursing and mockery. And you will never see your homeland again."

Jeremiah reiterated the Lord's warning, telling the people to not go to Egypt. He reminded them that they had been deceitful when they sent him out to pray to the Lord, saying "just tell us what the Lord says and we will do it! Today, said Jeremiah, today I have told you exactly what the Lord said, but you will not obey him any better now than you have in the past. So you can be sure that you will die from war, famine and disease in Egypt where you insist on going."

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY?
It was a tragic mistake to ask for God's guidance with no intention of following it. Like many of us today, Johanan spoke his own curse when he asked God to show them the way and yet they had already made up their minds. Johanan and his associates were already on their way to Egypt when they stopped to visit Jeremiah and he called them"deceitful".

I wonder how many of us would believe a prophet's word today? I can imagine scepticism and doubt. But perhaps believers in Christ would see and recognize the truth when it is spoken through a messenger of the Lord.
How many times have we prayed to God for guidance when in our minds we have already made our choice? I am as guilty as all of you. I tend to rely on my own mind instead of giving the reins to God. Here's hoping we can all work on "giving the reins" to God!

Yours in Christ,
Mary


Prayer Requests are needed for:

HEALTH:

Pray for my grandson and new baby Gunar who was born with kidney problems.

Pray for Gabe.

Pray for Gary and Steve my insurance men who have prostate cancer.

Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.

Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer.

Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with a form of MS.

Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.

Pray for Gary Summers, my friend from church, who has cancer.

Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who has been undergoing chemo. Pray also for Charly who longs to be 100 percent again and walk without an aid.

Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.

SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary

RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John

LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian

SUPPORT: Pray for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom. Pray for our famers and those who raise livestock during this terrible drought.