Scripture
Jeremiah 42:1-7, 43:1-2
1 Then all the commanders of the forces, Johanan the son of
Kareah, Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people both small and great
approached 2 and said to Jeremiah the prophet, “Please let our petition
come before you, and pray for us to the LORD your God, that is for all this
remnant; because we are left but a few out of many, as your own eyes now see
us, 3 that the LORD your God may tell us the way in which we should walk
and the thing that we should do.” 4 Then Jeremiah the prophet said to
them, “I have heard you. Behold, I am going to pray to the LORD your God in
accordance with your words; and I will tell you the whole message which the
LORD will answer you. I will not keep back a word from you.” 5 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. 6 “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.” 7
Now at the end of ten days the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah. 43:1 But as soon as Jeremiah, whom the LORD their God had sent,
had finished telling all the people all the words of the LORD their God--that
is, all these words—2 Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son
of Kareah, and all the arrogant men said to Jeremiah, “You are telling a lie!
The LORD our God has not sent you to say, ‘You are not to enter Egypt to reside
there.’
Observation
The commanders asked Jeremiah for
a ‘word’ from the Lord. They said
they would listen and obey to whatever God said to Jeremiah. They preferred, however, to do what
they had already made up their minds to do - and even called Jeremiah a liar when
he told them what God said. They were
set on going to Egypt. They
decided for themselves what the word of the Lord was for them. They were seeking God’s approval and
affirmation but wanted their way, not God’s. They would not listen to Jeremiah. They asked for counsel, but never intended to follow it if
it was contrary to what they wanted.
They were determined! Ten
days later, the word came. Why the
delay? Perhaps to give them time
to decide that they really would obey God or go their own way. God gives us free will to decide – to
choose to obey Him or not.
Application
Choose to obey God always. Wait
for God and His timing. Allow God
to sort out in my heart what my motives are and what might be best for me. His
way leads to life and blessing, I
will obey God and be happy.
Prayer
I see stubbornness and pride
getting in the way of obedience.
Lord I pray that You deal with areas of my heart that should not have
any reign or hold on me in regards to doing what You want me to do. May my heart completely yield to Your
will, Your way, always. In Jesus
Name, A-men.
