CHAPTER 41

1 Now it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, and the princes of the king, even ten men with him, came unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and there they did eat bread together in Mizpah. 2 Then arose Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and the ten men that were with him, and smote Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan with the sword, and slew him, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land. 3 Ishmael also slew all the Jews that were with him, even with Gedaliah, at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans that were found there, and the men of war. 4 And it came to pass the second day after he had slain Gedaliah, and no man knew it, 5 That there came certain from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, even fourscore men, having their beards shaven, and their clothes rent, and having cut themselves, with offerings and incense in their hand, to bring them to the house of the LORD. 6 And Ishmael the son of Nethaniah went forth from Mizpah to meet them, weeping all along as he went: and it came to pass, as he met them, he said unto them, Come to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam. 7 And it was so, when they came into the midst of the city, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah slew them, and cast them into the midst of the pit, he, and the men that were with him.

Sometimes the names of the Bible become a little confusing. History's lessons, unheeded, are usually repeated.

Gedaliah was not of the family of David, but Ishmael was a descendent of David's family.

Gedaliah was appointed governor and Ishmael obviously believed a descendent of David's family should always rule in Jerusalem. God had said "IF" David's family would continue to always live according to His "Word," there would never fail to be a king from David's family ruling in Jerusalem (see 2Samuel 7:16, Psalm 132:12).

But David's family, and the successive kings after him, had NOT followed God's "Word." And God replaced the kingdom of David with a ruler from the Levites. Gedaliah was the son of Ahikam (2Kings 25:22), who was the son of Shaphan (2Kings 22:12), who was the son of Azaliah (2Kings 22:13), who was the son of Meshullum (2Kings 22:3). And Meshullam was perhaps the scribe, and member of the Levite family that was the overseer who helped Josiah with the repairs on the temple (2Chronicles 34:12).

Ishmael, on the other hand WAS a descendent of David. He was the son of Nethaniah (2Kings 25:23), who was the son of Elishama (2Kings 25:25), who was a son of David (2Samuel 5:13-16). And perhaps Ishmael thought that the prophecy should remain true, even though the successors of David had not followed God's will.

God's Word IS always true! But we cannot interpret God's Word according to OUR desires! Just because we don't approve of God's choice of our leaders, doesn't mean we should kill them, or assassinate their character, or even leave the church!

But Ishmael determined to serve self rather than to serve GOD, and he killed Gedaliah. He also killed all the Jews that were with Gedaliah, and all the Babylonian warriors that were with Gedaliah (verse 3). And when other people came to worship, he deceived them and killed them too! (see verses 4-7)

8 But ten men were found among them that said unto Ishmael, Slay us not: for we have treasures in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil, and of honey. So he forbare, and slew them not among their brethren. 9 Now the pit wherein Ishmael had cast all the dead bodies of the men, whom he had slain because of Gedaliah, was it which Asa the king had made for fear of Baasha king of Israel: and Ishmael the son of Nethaniah filled it with them that were slain. 10 Then Ishmael carried away captive all the residue of the people that were in Mizpah, even the king's daughters, and all the people that remained in Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had committed to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam: and Ishmael the son of Nethaniah carried them away captive, and departed to go over to the Ammonites.

However there were ten men there who promised Ishmael money if he would not kill them (verse 8). He spared their lives for the money.

Then Ishmael fled, carrying away captives with him (verse 10).

11 But when Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, heard of all the evil that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had done, 12 Then they took all the men, and went to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and found him by the great waters that are in Gibeon. 13 Now it came to pass, that when all the people which were with Ishmael saw Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, then they were glad. 14 So all the people that Ishmael had carried away captive from Mizpah cast about and returned, and went unto Johanan the son of Kareah. 15 But Ishmael the son of Nethaniah escaped from Johanan with eight men, and went to the Ammonites. 16 Then took Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, all the remnant of the people whom he had recovered from Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, from Mizpah, after that he had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, even mighty men of war, and the women, and the children, and the eunuchs, whom he had brought again from Gibeon:

When Johanan found out what happened, he gathered forces and went to capture Ishmael. Johanan was successful in retrieving the captives which Ishmael had taken. But Ismael escaped.

17 And they departed, and dwelt in the habitation of Chimham, which is by Bethlehem, to go to enter into Egypt, 18 Because of the Chaldeans: for they were afraid of them, because Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon made governor in the land.

Then Johanan, with all the people he had gathered, went to Chimham, near Bethlehem. His intention was to lead these people into Egypt. He believed that the Babylonian king would bring retribution for the murder of Gedaliah. And Johanan was afraid that he and the people would be killed.

When leadership in the church doesn't feel right to us, we should not focus on all that is wrong with the leaders. Instead we should focus on what God is saying personally to US! We must remember to TRUST God, because He IS still in control. There is a REASON for God's choices in leadership. And we do better, learning how WE are to be a part of God's work WITH the leaders we have. For if we focus on all that is wrong, we cannot see what is right!
And to work AGAINST leaders is to create mayhem!

CHAPTER 42

1 Then all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least even unto the greatest, came near, 2 And said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:) 3 That the LORD thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do. 4 Then Jeremiah the prophet said unto them, I have heard you; behold, I will pray unto the LORD your God according to your words; and it shall come to pass, that whatsoever thing the LORD shall answer you, I will declare it unto you; I will keep nothing back from you. 5 Then they said to Jeremiah, The LORD be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the LORD thy God shall send thee to us. 6 Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the LORD our God.

Johanan brought the people to Jeremiah and requested that the prophet pray and seek God for a message of guidance. Should they STAY, or should they LEAVE?

Jeremiah promised he would SEEK a "word" from God, if they would promise to OBEY the "word" from God.

The people made a solemn promise to OBEY God's will in the matter.

7 And it came to pass after ten days, that the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah. 8 Then called he Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces which were with him, and all the people from the least even to the greatest, 9 And said unto them, Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, unto whom ye sent me to present your supplication before him; 10 If ye will still abide in this land, then will I build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up: for I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you. 11 Be not afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him, saith the LORD: for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand. 12 And I will shew mercies unto you, that he may have mercy upon you, and cause you to return to your own land.

Jeremiah prayed and sought God's will. "After ten days" Jeremiah came back with an answer from the Lord.

The first part of this answer is very positive. The "word" from God was that if they would STAY in the land, GOD HIMSELF would assure them "mercies." The king of Babylon would not slay them, and they would be able to grow and multiply in the land of their nativity.

God IS in control! He CAN cause circumstances to be in our favor!

13 But if ye say, We will not dwell in this land, neither obey the voice of the LORD your God, 14 Saying, No; but we will go into the land of Egypt, where we shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor have hunger of bread; and there will we dwell: 15 And now therefore hear the word of the LORD, ye remnant of Judah; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; If ye wholly set your faces to enter into Egypt, and go to sojourn there; 16 Then it shall come to pass, that the sword, which ye feared, shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine, whereof ye were afraid, shall follow close after you there in Egypt; and there ye shall die. 17 So shall it be with all the men that set their faces to go into Egypt to sojourn there; they shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: and none of them shall remain or escape from the evil that I will bring upon them. 18 For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As mine anger and my fury hath been poured forth upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem; so shall my fury be poured forth upon you, when ye shall enter into Egypt: and ye shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach; and ye shall see this place no more. 19 The LORD hath said concerning you, O ye remnant of Judah; Go ye not into Egypt: know certainly that I have admonished you this day. 20 For ye dissembled in your hearts, when ye sent me unto the LORD your God, saying, Pray for us unto the LORD our God; and according unto all that the LORD our God shall say, so declare unto us, and we will do it. 21 And now I have this day declared it to you; but ye have not obeyed the voice of the LORD your God, nor any thing for the which he hath sent me unto you. 22 Now therefore know certainly that ye shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, in the place whither ye desire to go and to sojourn.

However this was an "either/or" proposition. God will intervene in historical events in order to help His people. But God will never infringe on the "free will" of His people to decide whether to follow His "word."

If they decided to leave Judah and go to Egypt, they would find that people hated and despised them (verse 18).

And if they decided to leave Judah and go to Egypt, they would meet with DEATH (verse 22).

Friends, I cannot help but see how this Scripture is applicable to church today. We have a lot of "church-hopping" going on in America today. People become dissatisfied with the way things are going in their church, and they decide to move.

But when one decides to move, he meets a sense of DEATH in his spiritual life. There is a personal sense of unfulfillment in that person's spiritual life because he has left UNDONE what God has given him to do: OBEY.

Over and over again, the Bible tells us that God PUTS us where He WANTS us to serve Him. And we should "blossom where we are planted!"

When we decide to LEAVE where God has PLACED us, then we are not TRUSTING God to have chosen correctly for us! We begin to have all sorts of questions: Did I hear God correctly when He told me to join this church? Does God really know what He's doing with our leadership?

And the heart becomes filled with INSECURITY rather than SURETY. The only way to really serve God with surety is to serve according to His WILL.

All this "church-hopping" would stop if we'd just learn to serve God with focus on HIM and not on PEOPLE!!

"It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man." (Psalm 118:8)

CHAPTER 43

1 And it came to pass, that when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking unto all the people all the words of the LORD their God, for which the LORD their God had sent him to them, even all these words, 2 Then spake Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men, saying unto Jeremiah, Thou speakest falsely: the LORD our God hath not sent thee to say, Go not into Egypt to sojourn there: 3 But Baruch the son of Neriah setteth thee on against us, for to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they might put us to death, and carry us away captives into Babylon. 4 So Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, and all the people, obeyed not the voice of the LORD, to dwell in the land of Judah.

Baruch was Jeremiah's secretary. It was Baruch who read Jeremiah's "words" from God to the leaders in chapter 36. Upon his reading of those "words," the leaders had decided to approach the king, Jehoiakim. But Jehoiakim showed contempt for the "words" and cut them to pieces and burned them in the fire.

Now the people accuse Jeremiah and Baruch of being co-conspirators and not true prophets! Their fear of the Babylonians is so great they cannot SEE the truth of God's WORD! They are focused on FEAR, and not on GOD!

These men of God, Jeremiah and Baruch, have suffered many things because of their devotion to God and His "words." And ALL of the prophecies they had spoken had come TRUE!

But because of their DISCONTENT and their FEAR, these people would not OBEY the "word" from God!

5 But Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, took all the remnant of Judah, that were returned from all nations, whither they had been driven, to dwell in the land of Judah; 6 Even men, and women, and children, and the king's daughters, and every person that Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch the son of Neriah. 7 So they came into the land of Egypt: for they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: thus came they even to Tahpanhes.

So they took Jeremiah and Baruch along with all the other people and led them to Egypt.

They had used their "free will" to DISOBEY God's "word."

Again, I cannot help but see the application of this to today's church. These people BELIEVED in God. They obviously BELIEVED in His WORD. They were faithful church-goers.

But they allowed their DISCONTENT and their FEARS to make them DISOBEDIENT to God's WORD! Yes, Christians DO sin!

And I believe all this "church-hopping" is SIN! God has a plan for each of us to GROW and be USEFUL in His church. And when we allow our discontent and fears to overrule God's Word, then we MISS our blessings!

Permit me to use an illustration. A man saw a butterfly struggling to get out of his cocoon. He wiggled and struggled and then stopped, as if very tired. So the man thought he would help. He cut the cocoon, and the butterfly slid easily out. But the butterfly's wings were filled with fluid and he could never fly! God had intended for the STRUGGLE to force the fluid from the wings so the butterfly could be beautiful and soar with the wind. But the man's actions circumvented God's intention, and the butterfly was RUINED! All that butterfly was able to do was crawl around on the ground until he died!

8 Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, saying, 9 Take great stones in thine hand, and hide them in the clay in the brickkiln, which is at the entry of Pharaoh's house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah; 10 And say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will set his throne upon these stones that I have hid; and he shall spread his royal pavilion over them. 11 And when he cometh, he shall smite the land of Egypt, and deliver such as are for death to death; and such as are for captivity to captivity; and such as are for the sword to the sword. 12 And I will kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt; and he shall burn them, and carry them away captives: and he shall array himself with the land of Egypt, as a shepherd putteth on his garment; and he shall go forth from thence in peace. 13 He shall break also the images of Beth-she'mesh, that is in the land of Egypt; and the houses of the gods of the Egyptians shall he burn with fire.

Jeremiah had another "word" from God when the people finally got to Egypt. The "word" was essentially this: "GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL!!"

God would cause the Babylonians to invade Egypt, and destroy it! The king of Babylon would set up his throne (in a temporary manner) in the very place to which these people had fled (verse 10).

And all these people could do was "wiggle around like a worm on the ground" until they DIED! They could never SOAR because they circumvented the struggle that would have made them STRONG!

It would be those who surrendered to God's will and went into captivity with the Babylonians that would return and build the land (see Jeremiah 29:10-14, and Jeremiah 32:36-44).

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.