Jeremiah 42, 43 - Back to Egypt

 

Jeremiah 42– Back to Egypt

 

Israel found themselves in trouble, so they decided to go back to Egypt. This was a decision they tried to make back in Moses’ day and now after the Babylonian conquest. God had told them to stay in the land, but they were afraid to obey.

 

They had already made up their minds to go, but they thought it would be good to ask the prophet to pray for them; “Pray for us! We will obey!” How pious those words sounded! God cannot be fooled.

 

Jeremiah prayed and waited for God’s word for that hour. Perhaps God did have another plan for the people. No, God’s plan had not been changed. God told them not to be afraid; He told them to stay in the land and trust His care. But God also told His servant that the leaders were hypocrites and not to be trusted.

 

Faith and patience go together (Heb. 6:12): “Whosoever believes will not act hastily” (Isaiah 28:16)

 

Jeremiah 43 – Jeremiah’s Prediction Comes True

 

Everything Jeremiah had predicted had come true, but they called him a false prophet! Once you have decided to disobey the Lord, you can always find excuses for rejecting God’s truth. It must have been painful for Baruch and Jeremiah to endure the slander of those arrogant men, people they had helped for many years. But Jesus was treated the same way, so Jeremiah was experiencing “the fellowship of His sufferings” (Phil.3:10).

 

God had the last word: their trip to Egypt would be a death march. The only safe place is in the will of God. The army from which the Jews fled in Judah would come to Egypt and judge them because no one can run away from their problems.

 

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

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J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.