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Dear Heavenly Father, Praise You told the rebellious remnant you allowed to stay in Judah, “If you will remain in this land, I will build you up and not pull you down; I will plant you, and not pluck you up; for I relent of the disaster that I did to you. I will grant you mercy…and let you remain in your own land” (Jer 42:10, 12). Never before had such unworthy people been shown such love and compassion. I praise you today as the God of mercy and grace, the God whose lovingkindness endures forever. Hallelujah! Today in Your Word Today you told me how Jeremiah ended up living out the remainder of his life in the land of Egypt. This story is so frustrating to read! Gedaliah wouldn’t listen to Johanan’s warning and it cost him his life. Johanan wouldn’t listen to Jeremiah’s warning and it cost the remnant their homeland. The people claimed they would do whatever you told Jeremiah, but the minute he told them, they accused him of lying. The people declared you to be “the Lord our God,” but as soon as they settled in Egypt, they began to worship the Egyptian gods! How was this possible? How could they witness the destruction of their nation because of idolatry and then blame it on the fact that they hadn’t offered enough cakes to the queen of heaven? It boggles the mind! And in spite of their rebellious hearts, you were there every step of the way, warning them not to go to Egypt, not to worship other gods, not to be stubborn like their fathers, not to bring disaster on themselves and their children, and still they ignored your words and disobeyed your commands. What can be learned from such a tragic tale? It teaches me to take the warnings of others seriously. It teaches me that what may seem like the smart thing to do is actually a recipe for disaster. It teaches me to think long and hard before I follow the crowd. It teaches me that the safest decision I can make is to obey your will. It teaches me that living for you is always better than living for myself. It teaches me to submit when your word conflicts with what I want. It teaches me that there’s nowhere I can run that will shield me from the consequences of sin. It teaches me to be loyal to you even when everyone else is compromising and urging me to do the same. Poor Jeremiah! He was faithful to preach the truth, and instead of listening to him, the people took him to Egypt against your will. I hope that when he died, some of them honored him as the man of God he was, for he had endured to the end by faith! Reflection Have I ever sought your guidance when what I really wanted was your approval of my will? There’s no point in asking, “Where should I go, Lord?” if I’m already halfway down the road to Egypt! Request Father, it’s easy to dismiss today’s reading by saying, “I would never be like that!” Remind me that these things were written down for my instruction, “on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor 10:11–12). Thanksgiving Thank you for Jeremiah! “Through his faith, though he died, he still speaks” (Heb 11:4). May I always follow his example of faith and perseverance. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Suggested Hymn: “When We See Christ” — Esther K. Rusthoi. Meditation Verse: Jeremiah 42:5. |