BACK TO EGYPT

Lesson 12 for December 19, 2015

Gedaliah was appointed as governor of Judah (Jeremiah 40:6-12).

Ishmael killed Gedaliah and captured the remnant (Jeremiah 40:13-41:10).

Johanan delivered the remnant and asked Jeremiah to consult God (Jeremiah 41:11-42:6).

God replied: Return to Judah and submit to Babylon (Jeremiah 42:7-22).

Johanan refused to obey God and went to Egypt (Jeremiah 43:1-7).

Jeremiah prophesied at Egypt (Jeremiah 43:8-13).

Judah’s rejection and arrogance (Jeremiah 44).

A little remnant remained at Judah after Jerusalem was destroyed. Their story is told in Jeremiah 40 to 44.

THE GOVERNOR GEDALIAH“Then Jeremiah went to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, to Mizpah, and dwelt with him among the people who were left in the land.” (Jeremiah 40:6)

The king of Babylon left some faithful people, the poor and a small group of soldiers in Judah.All captains who remained there came before Gedaliah to obey him. But the Ammonites bribed a traitor: Ishmael (Jer. 40:14).Ishmael killed Gedaliah and the Babylonian soldiers. Then, he led the people to Ammon. One of the captains–Johanan–chased him and delivered the remnant (Jer. 41:14).The people was afraid of Babylon’s reprisal if they came back to Mizpah (Jer. 41:17-18).

SEEKING DIVINE GUIDANCE

“Whether it is pleasing or displeasing, we will obey the voice

of the Lord our God to whom we send you, that it may be well with us when we obey the voice of the

Lord our God.” (Jeremiah 42:6)

“and said to Jeremiah the prophet, ‘Please, let our petition be acceptable to you, and pray for us to the Lord your God, for all this remnant (since we are left but a few of many, as you can see), that the Lord your God may show us the way in which we should walk and the thing we should do.’” (Jeremiah 42:2-3)The people’s dilemma was either to go to

Egypt or to return to Mizpah. They decided to ask God for advice through Jeremiah.The people committed to obey God as they parents did when leaving Egypt (Exodus 24:7).

“If we take Christ for our guide, He will lead us safely. The veriest sinner need not miss his way.”

E.G.W. (God’s Amazing Grace, September 13)

“God has given us the power of choice; it is ours to exercise. We cannot change our hearts, we cannot control our thoughts, our impulses, our affections. We cannot make ourselves pure, fit for God’s service. But we can choose to serve God, we can give Him our will; then He will work in us to will and to do according to His good pleasure. Thus our whole nature will be brought under the control of Christ.”

E.G.W. (The Ministry of Healing, cp. 11, pg. 176)

RETURNING TO EGYPT“That Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men spoke, saying to Jeremiah, ‘You speak falsely! The Lord our God has not sent you to say, “Do not go to Egypt to dwell there.”’” (Jeremiah 43:2)

They pretended to seek divine guidance, but they actually wanted God to agree with their plans; that is, going to Egypt.They tried to justify their decision by accusing Jeremiah of lying to them, and being influenced by his scribe Baruch.

When sinners are not willing to correct their ways, reasoning no longer acts. If the Word doesn’t match their desire, they don’t listen to it anymore.If you want to be guided by God, you must be willing to go wherever He leads you to, and to do whatever He asks you to do.

HIDDEN STONES“Take large stones in your hand, and hide them in the sight of the men of Judah, in the clay in the brick courtyard which is at the entrance to Pharaoh’s house in Tahpanhes.” (Jeremiah 43:9)

God used symbols to give a new message to the disobedient people. The country where they sought refuge would not protect them. They would be attacked again there.In 568 BC, a civil war was taking place in Egypt. Nebuchadnezzar set up his camp on the land where Jeremiah had hidden big stones with mud.The only true protection in this world is to obey God. He is the only safe way.

OPEN DEFIANCE “As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord, we will not listen to you!” (Jeremiah 44:16)

Some years later, the Jews were doing the same abominable things in Egypt as they did in Jerusalem.They defied God’s word through Jeremiah. He didn’t repent from their sins but boasted about them.They stated that as they worshipped idols during Manases’ reign, they “had plenty of food, were well-off, and saw no trouble.” (Jeremiah 44:17).Since they didn’t receive their punishment at that exact time, they thought that bad things happened because they stopped sinning!

“Rebellion and apostasy are in the very air we breathe. We shall be

affected by them unless we by faith hang our helpless souls upon

Christ.”

E.G.W. (Lift Him Up, January 7)