This chapter details the remnant of Judah asking Jeremiah to inquire of God on their behalf, so they may obey and be spared.
“At the end of ten days… Jeremiah… summoned Johanan… and said to them, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel… If you will remain in this land, then I will build you up and not pull you down… for I relent of the disaster that I did to you. Do not fear the king of Babylon… I will grant you mercy, that he may have mercy on you and let you remain in your own land. But if you… [disobey] the voice of the Lord your God and… go to the land of Egypt…then the sword that you fear shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt… and there you shall die. [You] shall have no remnant or survivor…’ ” (v7-14, 16-17 abr)
Those who remained in Judah after defeating the rebel uprising seek the mercy of God with a promise: “Whether it is good or bad, we will obey the voice of the Lord our God”. So, Jeremiah prays to God on behalf of the people, and delivers a clear warning: ‘Do not go to Egypt, stay in Judah.’ Both God and Jeremiah knew that the people planned to flee to Egypt in an attempt to save themselves from Babylon’s wrath.
Wouldn’t it be nice if every request from God is this straightforward? ‘Do this, do not do that.’ Well, in some ways, God does make Himself very clear – more clear than our sinful nature would like. He gives us His holy scriptures, and His indwelling Holy Spirit to guide us. These, along with God’s other followers, offer all of the guidance we need – yet we can easily fail to listen.
I’ve sometimes felt like God has been unclear / unresponsive when I’ve asked for guidance on something. Yet, if I patiently await His answer, while spending time with Him (reading scripture and praying) He will respond in a clear way. Jeremiah and Judah waited 10 days for a response – I don’t often wait longer than 10 minutes… Let’s strive to patiently await God’s guidance, and learn to obey it, even if it’s not the response (or timing) we were hoping for.
Father God, our Wise and Compassionate Lord, You provide for our every need, including our need for guidance. Thank you for the many gifts of wisdom and discernment including Your Spirit, Your word, and those who speak Your truths. May we earnestly seek to know Your will, and to obey it, with increasing consistency. We praise You for being patient, merciful, and forgiving as we make mistakes along the way. May we learn patience and perseverance from Jesus and Your Spirit, so we may await Your responses in Your perfect timing. In the name of Jesus we seek to honor, praise and obey You, every moment of every day, amen.
~ Conqueror in Training