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August 21st

Our Bible reading today is in Jeremiah chapters 41-45.

Most of the citizens of Judah were taken captive by the victorious Babylonians. Only a handful of the defeated Judean military were left in hiding in Judah. Most of the older adults, along with the physically infirmed were left in the countrysides and burning villages and cities.

How long was it going to take for Judah to get back to normal? Or better still, get back to God? Well, it wasn't going to be any time soon.

A Judean named Ishmael convinced 10 other Jews to join him in assassinating the new Governor of Judah. His name was Gedaliah. He was somewhat famous among the faithful. He stood up to Zedekiah and his crooked city councilmen and saved Jeremiah’s life. Gedaliah was leading the survivors to obey Jeremiah’s message of submitting to Babylon’s demands. Ishmael had a different plan...and it included murder.

Self-centered evil was still resident in Judah. After the murderous massacre of the governor and his men in Mizpah, fear and outrage led a man to gather the scattered soldiers of Judah to hunt down Ishmael and his raiders. That leader was Johannon.

He and his men found Ishmael at the waters of Gibeon, just north of Jerusalem. Ishmael and eight of his conspirators escaped with their lives and went down to Amnon. Then a couple of “firsts” happened.

“Then all the commanders of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and “all” the people (in Judah) from the least to the greatest, came near 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— that the Lord your God may show us the way we should go, and the thing that we should do.”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭42:1-3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The remnant of the populace of Judah gathered before the prophet and sought his help to get God into the matter of their tenuous future. “They wanted a word from God”...”the first time”...in the 40 year ministry of Jeremiah before the fall of Jerusalem.

Was this a good thing for God’s people? In principle, yes. But our reading shows us great hypocrisy by the mob at Jeremiah’s door. They came with respect it seemed. This audience with the old prophet would have been right. Except for one thing, their hearts were still far from broken over their long time sinning. They weren't looking for a word from God concerning His will for them. They wanted a pass from God’s messenger to do their own will, not God’s.

Outwardly, they put on a good show. But inwardly, in their hearts, there was no humble submission to the will and ways of God.

O Lord, how much of my life looks good on the outside in front of others, while all along You see my heart wanting my own way and not yours. I'm sorry Lord. Forgive me. I don't want to be a pretender any more. Help me, Lord!

O the other first...? Jeremiah, The first since Moses to prophesy to Jacob’s children in Egypt....?

You see, Jeremiah was kidnapped by Johannon and his remnant of Judah and taken to Egypt against the prophet’s oracle to remain in the promised land for God’s blessing. Jeremiah prophesied to that rebel remnant using a visual aid like he did 40 years before. But instead of a ruined waste band to make his point, he used two large stones placed outside the Pharoah’s palace. Here is where Babylon will place their throne over Egypt and the world. It’s coming. And most of you won't make it back to your homeland.

The will of man...to save himself...only to do just the opposite.

Jesus says I Am The Way! We believe...help our unbelief, Lord.

Have a great day