Today’s passage: Jeremiah 43:1-13
Helpful thoughts:
- The people did not want to go back on their vow, so they called the messenger a liar. They are declaring Jeremiah to be a false prophet.
- If you trace this narrative through the siege, capture and these latest events, what becomes clear is that the people of Israel had grown to love Israel/Judah more than they loved God.
- They disobeyed God thinking they were defending Israel/Judah.
- When Joshua asked the Commander of the Lord’s Army whose side He was on, He made it clear, Israel was to be on His side, not the other way around (Joshua 5:13-15).
- The children of Israel have finally run back to Egypt for safety as they had desired to so many years ago (Numbers 14:1-4). They did not know that NO country had ever been their safety. Not Egypt, nor Israel or Judah was ever their safety.
Questions to consider:
- What must be true of our heart as we go to the Word of God? What do we know about God and therefore about His word (The Bible) that compels us to receive it meekly and submissively?
- What could Christians in the United States (Or any other country) learn from the sins of Israel and Judah? Who are the people of God in the world today, is it a country or is it the Church? Is God “for us” or is the Church for Him? And, if God is actively loving us and conforming us to Christ (That kind of “For us” – Romans 8:31), then what should He do if we are not living as followers of Christ? (Hebrews 12:6)
- What made you a child of God? (Romans 9:30-33) What has Christ (Our King!) called us to do to advance His kingdom? (Matthew 28:18-20)