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OOR Jeremiah always had a
congregation, but his congregations were always rebellious. It makes one wonder
why the people even came to him in the first place. They already had their
minds made up concerning what they were going to do. Why ask for advice,
especially from God's man, if there is no willingness to adjust to whatever
advice is given?
Jeremiah had gone through the
wringer, especially with king Zedekiah. That monarch was blind and in Babylon
by the time this chapter was written, but his attitude lingered behind. Remember how Zedekiah had asked Jeremiah
repeatedly for a word from God, but without exception he had ignored the
answers. Now there was only a remnant of the remnant remaining in southern
Palestine, but they had the same problem Zedekiah had exhibited.
The people came to Jeremiah and
oh how they were profuse in their professions of piety, humility, faith and
submission. But their heart was not in their words. After Jeremiah had prayed
for 10 days, he brought God's message to them. But, no surprise, they did
exactly what was forbidden. God said,
"Don't go to Egypt." So, the people (under Johanan) said, "Let's
go to Egypt" (see Jeremiah 43).
What the people wanted was to be
safe. And, they had made up their mind
that the only way to be safe was to flee to the southwest. It made sense, I
guess. Babylon was to the northeast. The
Babylonian appointed governor had been assassinated. What better strategy than to run as far away
from Babylonians as possible. Except that God demanded otherwise. God expected them to stay put. He offered to protect them. He also warned of
harsh discipline if they ignored Him.
But apparently that didn't matter to them.
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