July 23, 2024 - Jeremiah 40-45

Upon taking the captives into exile, Nebuchadnezzar left Gedaliah in charge in Jerusalem, serving as governor.  The remaining Israelites murdered him and ran to Egypt, forcing Jeremiah to go with them.  The prophet had warned them that they must remain in the land or they would face further judgment from God. Their response?  “No, we will go to the land of Egypt, where we shall not see war or hear the sound of the trumpet or be hungry for bread, and we will dwell there” (42:14).  Oh my, how mistaken they were!  Jeremiah’s response to them:  “Then hear the word of the Lord, O remnant of Judah. Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: If you set your faces to enter Egypt and go to live there, then the sword that you fear shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine of which you are afraid shall follow close after you to Egypt, and there you shall die.  All the men who set their faces to go to Egypt to live there shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence. They shall have no remnant or survivor from the disaster that I will bring upon them” (42:14-17).  Stubborn, stubborn, stubborn.  Rather, let us own Christ as our Savior and his commandments do.

See the Judge, our nature wearing,

clothed in majesty divine;

you who long for his appearing

then shall say, ‘This God is mine!’

Gracious Savior,

own me in that day as thine.

But to those who have confessed,

loved and served the Lord below,

he will say, ‘near, ye blessed,

see the kingdom I bestow;

you forever

shall my love and glory know.’   --John Newton (1774)