Jeremiah 42-43

< Back to Jeremiah Index

TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The Remnant’s Disobedience

When the remnant who had remained in the land after the Babylonian siege and destruction of Jerusalem sought out God’s direction, to whom did they turn?
The Lord gave the people a choice of two possible actions. Did God make clear to them what His desire was, and what the consequences would be regarding their choice?
Once the people had made their decision, and under the leadership of Johanan, where did they go to live? Did Jeremiah go with them?
What was the object lesson the Lord gave to Jeremiah for the people in Egypt?
Did God’s warning of dire consequences declared to the people through Jeremiah come to pass?

The people turned to Jeremiah and asked him to pray to the Lord for them, seeking God’s direction. Jeremiah was faithful to their request, and God answered ten days later.
God made abundantly clear to the people that they should be obedient to Him and remain in the land of Judah. He said He would bless them in many ways and show mercy on them. But He also told them that if they were disobedient, and left the land, He would bring judgment on them.
Under the leadership of Johanan, the people disobediently left the land of Judah and went to Tahpanhes in Egypt. They forced Jeremiah to go with them.
God told Jeremiah to take large stones and “hide” them (in the sight of the men of Judah) in the courtyard at the entrance to the Pharaoh’s house. The meaning of the lesson was that the Jewish people who though they had fled to safety from the Babylonian forces, were actually right where Nebuchadnezzar and his men could find them.
Yes. Nebuchadnezzar did invade Egypt in 568 to 567 BC, and the horrible judgment that Jeremiah had predicted came to pass. (See Jeremiah 43:12-13.)

God had promised the Jewish remnant left in the land of Judah, that if they would remain in the land He would bless them and they would be safe from the Babylonians. He also said that if they disobeyed and went to Egypt, they would be subject to the sword of Nebuchadnezzar. Consider why the Babylonian forces would spare the people in one place yet destroy them in another.

Are you able to approach God with requests for His leading with no agendas? Is your heart truly open to receive His direction and ready to obediently follow it, even if it is an unpleasant directive?

“For you were hypocrites in your hearts when you sent me to the Lord your God” saying, “Pray for us to the Lord our God, and according to all that the Lord our God says, so declare to us and we will do it.” Jeremiah 42:20