JEREMIAH 42-45

Last time, the Chaldeans (Babylonians) have infiltrated Jerusalem; King Zedekiah, rather than surrender as God said he should, flees, and is captured. His sons are killed, his eyes gouged out, and he is carried away as a prisoner to Babylon where he would die. Jeremiah is treated with favor by the Babylonians after the fall of Jerusalem. Gedaliah, who was given charge over Jeremiah, is made governor over the cities of Judah; he is warned, by Johanan, one of the captains of the defeated armies of Judah, about a plot by the Ammonite King Baalis to assassinate him. Unfortunately, Gedaliah does not believe the report, and consequently is assassinated in Chapter 41. Ishmael, the assassin hired by the king of Ammon, takes captive the people of Mizpah, where the assassination took place, and tries to escape to Ammon with them; Johanan and all the captains of the forces with him pursue Ishmael the assassin, and deliver the people from Ishmael. Ishmael escapes into Ammon.

Johanan, out of fear of what the Chaldeans (Babylonians) might do given the assassination of Gedaliah, seeks to lead the people down to Egypt. But before they go, they seek the counsel of Jeremiah (v.1-7). Whether good or bad we will obey whatever the Lord says. Jeremiah gives them God’s answer, but they don’t like it (v.8- 22). God understood they were “hypocrites in (their) hearts” because they were bent on doing the very thing God told them not to do!

How often have we really wanted to do something, but in order to appear “righteous,” we sought advice from a godly brother/sister or a pastor, knowing all along we had already made up our minds about what were going to do? (Woman counseled in Albuquerque. After counseling what are you really going to do? “Go back to him,” she replied.) Outwardly, we want God’s counsel but inwardly, we often seek our own. The Israelites here are reminiscent of those who say: “Speak into my life “no matter what,” until you speak against something they want to do or offend them. (v.1-7) Their response is one of rebellion. (v.8-13) They returned to the place (the land of Egypt) from which the Lord had delivered them. Tahpanhes: [TAH puh neez] — a city on the eastern frontier of Lower Egypt, in the area of the Nile delta (Jer. 2:16); it is south of the modern-day Egyptian Port Said, located on the Mediterranean Sea. Archeologists/ancient historians confirm through the annals of King Nebuchadnezzar that his invasion of Egypt occurred in his 37th year (568 B.C. - 567 B.C.) according to most scholars, shortly after Jeremiah’s prophecy given here which took place around 586 B.C. some 18 years before the Babylonian invasion of Egypt.

(International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia). It was probably named after a powerful Egyptian general who brought the surrounding area under firm Egyptian control in the 11th century. The city is a desolate site today, but was once a fertile district of Egypt. (Nelson Bible Dictionary). As with many who seek their own will, rather than God’s, the lushness of Tahpanhes lured Israel into a false sense of security. The grass always seems to be greener on the other side. But the reality is we can’t go back to the old life - we can’t go back to Egypt - for when we do we will only reap the consequences of our rebellion. In fact, the very thing we think we are escaping will “overtake” us! (42:15, 16).

Great spiritual observation here: When people do not hear what they want to “hear,” they will defy even the clear counsel of God. We see that in the church today. It is the same spirit by which Peter rebuked the Lord. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!" But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men." (Matthew 16:22-23) “But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter…” (Mark 8:33), as if the Lord wanted to make it clear to all of them, that such a spirit was neither benevolent nor in His best interest, but according to the limited perception of fallen man. “But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46) The answer is given here in (42:20): because we are hypocrites “in (our) hearts! “

Many believers are reluctant to ask for God’s will to be done, because they’re afraid of what He might say. We pretend we don’t know what God’s will is, when in fact we do, and then wonder why we are not blessed. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. (John 13:16-17) Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. (James 4:17) CHAPTER 44

(V.1-14) God announces that the remnant of Israel which fled to Egypt will be punished and die in Egypt. (v.15-19) The people respond to Jeremiah. QUEEN OF HEAVEN - A fertility goddess to whom the Israelites, especially the women, offered sacrifice and worship in the days before the fall of the southern kingdom of Judah. Their worship included burning incense and pouring out drink offerings to her. Many believe the phrase “ queen of heaven” is the moon, which was worshipped by the Assyrians, as the power of nature - their “mother nature.” (Easton’s Bible Dictionary). It may also be a title for the goddess ASHTORETH, (1 Kings 11:5, 33; 2 Kings 23:13) the Canaanite goddess. (Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary).

This mythological goddess Ashtorethwas wife of the Canaanite god Baal or Moloch, "king of heaven," (Leviticus 18, 20; Jeremiah 32:35). Together they symbolized nature's generative powers; prostitution was practiced as an act of worship to the queen of heaven and Baal her husband. (Fausset's Bible Dictionary).

Notice: The reasoning given here is the same process used today by those who are being deceived. (v.17, 18). They measured their prosperity by worldly and selfish gain. Water always flows in the path of least resistance. For many, their faith is as stable as water! They will bail and rationalize away their faith at the first sign of resistance. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2-4) Note also, the women followed the men (v.19).

(v.20-23) “The Lord could no longer bear it.” What a statement. God is longsuffering but God also has a limit; a wise man will not test it. Jesus said to Satan: "It is written again, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.” (Matthew 4:7) A reference to Deuteronomy 6:16. Repent while there is time to repent is the admonishment here. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. (1 Corinthians 11:31-32) God is not to be played or played with!

(v.24-30) We see the mercy of God in (v.28). But notice they will escape to testify, that God’s word “will stand” against theirs!

CHAPTER 45

(v.1-5) Here we have God’s word of assurance to Baruch, just as he assured the Ethiopian who helped deliver Jeremiah from prison (39:15-18). Notice: (v.4) There is no such thing as being “too big to fail,” with God! What He has built, He can also tear down!

What have we learned tonight? 1) Obedience is not an option with God. 2) Disobedience means the grass is never greener on the other side. Someone once said: “IF THE GRASS LOOKS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE…..FERTILIZE YOURS.” 3) God’s counsel will stand. Therefore, rest upon His word, not better circumstances, nor people, not even yourself. Trust in His counsel alone! Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, “My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure.” (Isaiah 46:10) And Jeremiah reminds us (Jer. 29:11). His pleasure is to give us an everlasting “future” and a “hope!”