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Listening Only To Self - Jeremiah 41-45
Listening Only To Self - Jeremiah 41-45
Upon the killing of Gedaliah, the rebellious remnant reasoned that they would have to flee to Egypt. Since the king of Babylon had set Gedaliah in power, their slaying of him was an act of treason against Babylon. They had already lost all of their battles against Babylon, how could they hope to not be destroyed this time? Time to flee to Egypt!
Before taking off to Egypt, they ask for advice and counsel from Jeremiah. Their stated intention was good: "Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with the whole message with which the LORD your God will send you to us. “Whether it is pleasant or unpleasant, we will listen to the voice of the LORD our God to whom we are sending you, so that it may go well with us when we listen to the voice of the LORD our God.”" (Jer. 42:5–6).
Jeremiah returns with the word of the LORD (see 42:7, 9, 13, 15,19). Such was not what they were expecting! "Stay here and I will protect you" says the LORD. "Go to Egypt, and I will see that you die".
Jeremiah perceived their treacherous hearts: "you have only deceived yourselves" (42:20). They respond simply by calling Jeremiah a liar. So much for 'whether it is pleasant or unpleasant', they only intended to hear if it agreed with their thinking. Since the 'word of the LORD' didn't agree, they rejected it, denied, and rebelled against it.
True to His word, they were put to death! He brought upon them "sword, famine, and pestilence" so that there was no survivors of those who entered Egypt (44:13-14). With such destruction, they would know "whose word will stand, Mine or theirs", says the LORD (44:28).
God is good, when He agrees with me? God is wise, when He agrees with me? God is right, when He agrees with me? Such thinking is only deceiving oneself! We are not God! His thoughts are not our thoughts! His ways are not our ways! We are not His counselors!
Having rejected God's word, they cannot avoid God's judgment. They do what God says not to do, and they die as God says they would. God says what He means, means what He says, and does what He says He will do. We can listen, obey, and be blessed; or we can listen, rebel, and be condemned. Which is it to be for you? How are you responding to God's word?
Hugh DeLong
