Jeremiah Gives a Warning

Jeremiah 42:1–22
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Jesus tells a parable of the fig tree and its inability to produce fruit. Apparently, the gardener came back again and again to see if fruit was growing on the tree. Unfortunately, there was none. Obviously, this story is symbolic of God coming to look for fruit to receive from H … More

Warning
Several Army officers asked Jeremiah to pray for them and ask the Lord what He wants them to do (vv. 1-3). Jeremiah promises that he will and they promise they will do whatever the Lord says, even if it isn’t what they want to do (vv. 4-6) Ten days later the Lord gives them an answer (vv. 7-9). The Lord says that He is sorry that He will have to punish them and asks them to stay in Judah where He will build them up in the faith (v. 10). He also tells them not to be afraid of the King of Babylon and that He will protect them and give them back their farms (vv. 11-12).  It seems that they are doing the right thing, coming to Jeremiah and saying, “Is it right to go to Egypt (vv. 13-14)?” They knew it was not, because the Scriptures had always said that Israel was never to go back to Egypt – never. “Woe unto them that trust in Egypt,” Isaiah said. And yet here they are on their way.

Their words sound good, but their hearts are wrong, as subsequent events prove. They knew this was wrong, and yet they wanted somehow to twist God to justify their actions, so they try to justify them with these pious words. Jeremiah tells them they have survived the Babylon army attack but now they are planning to move to Egypt and he warns them that if they do, war, starvation, and desease will follow them and kill them there (vv. 15-17). The Lord was angry with the people and tells them they will never see their home land again (v. 18). Jeremiah warns the people to stay away from Egypt and if they refuse to obey God they will die in Egypt (vv. 19-22) That is a manifestation of the flesh. 

Application

The flesh can be extremely religious. It loves to sing in the choir, to usher, to preach messages, and to do all kinds of religious things – as long as it can have an evil heart of unbelief.

Jeremiah 42:1-22 (English Standard Version)


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