Jeremiah 42 FSI - HEAR, O EARTH

> [!title|noicon] **Jeremiah 42 Notes** > [[Jeremiah 41 FSI|<Prev]]   [\[Bible\]](Bible%20Books%20Navigation.md)   [[Jeremiah 43 FSI|Next>]] [[Jeremiah 42|Verse list view]] > [Jeremiah 42:1](Jeremiah%2042.md#^1), [2](Jeremiah%2042.md#^2), [3](Jeremiah%2042.md#^3) note > > So now they have a plan to escape to Egypt. And they've already decided that this is what they're going to do. But they want to secure God's approval on their plan that they had already come up with. They didn't ask for God's direction for a plan. And remember, Jeremiah has been with them all along, but not once had they asked for him to go to the LORD before now. > > Moreover, notice in verses 2 and 3 that they say to Jeremiah "the LORD *thy* God." That is, they were distanced from God and quite cold in their relationship with God, so as they were going their own way they were alienated from Him. Yet he makes a statement that sounds so holy, so wonderful, asking for God to show them the way wherein they may walk and the thing they may do. So they are claiming that they want to be obedient to God's command and direction, as we'll see over the next several verses. ^jer42-1-3 > [Jeremiah 42:4](Jeremiah%2042.md#^4), [5](Jeremiah%2042.md#^5), [6](Jeremiah%2042.md#^6) note > > Jeremiah responds to their request with the statement that the LORD is *their* God. He is the One they must listen to. And, ultimately, no matter what anyone says, they can deny God is their God, but the fact is that He rules everywhere and everyone must answer to Him. And, of course, Jeremiah already knows what the answer will be, but he will respectfully ask God on their behalf. > > And in response we see that they absolutely claim that they will obey the Word of God whether it be good or evil, and in verse 6 even acknowledge that the LORD is *their* God. > > When we read this, it almost sounds like they are saying, "Oh God, you're so lucky to have us listen to you." First they coming calling the LORD "thy God." And then, as if it's a sop to the Lord, now they'll call him *their* God and they'll do whatever He tells them to do. But the implication is that they really want for Him to agree with what they're planning to do to go into Egypt. And yet, they try to make it sound absolutely holy. > > It's like when you go to someone from whom you need a favor and you first butter them up a little bit. You say some nice things to and about them and you make it clear that you're on very good terms with them before finally asking, "Hey, would you grant me this favor?" What a horrible thing this is. This is pure hypocrisy as we'll see. And it's all in an effort to persuade and to guide God to approve what they want. ^jer42-4-6 > [Jeremiah 42:7](Jeremiah%2042.md#^7), [8](Jeremiah%2042.md#^8), [9](Jeremiah%2042.md#^9), [10](Jeremiah%2042.md#^10), [11](Jeremiah%2042.md#^11), [12](Jeremiah%2042.md#^12) note > > So after 10 days the Word of the LORD came to Jeremiah. And remember, Johanan and all the camp had said to Jeremiah to tell them like it is, to give them the response of God whether it be good or evil, not to hold anything back. So Jeremiah called all of the people, from the least to the greatest to give them God's answer. And this illustrates how each one is responsible for their own actions on an individual level. > > There is a translation error in [verse 10](Jeremiah%2042.md#^10). Rather than abide in the land, they were to *return to* the land. And returning to the land spiritually means to obey God's command to go out into Babylonian captivity itself as the wilderness, not to remain in the land of Judah that was desolated by the Babylonians, nor to go into Egypt (a figure of being given back over to the world). Only in this arrangement were they not to be afraid of the King of Babylon and be delivered from his hand ([vv10b](Jeremiah%2042.md#^10), [11](Jeremiah%2042.md#^11), [12](Jeremiah%2042.md#^12), [ch 21:9](Jeremiah%2021.md#^9)). > > See [Isaiah 54:7](Isaiah%2054.md#^7), [8](Isaiah%2054.md#^8). Before we experience salvation we were chosen from before the foundation of the world to be His children. Yet we went through the difficulties of coming under the wrath of God and sentenced to eternal death for sin. And there was a certain amount of shame that goes with this. But the time will come, because we were chosen of God, that He WILL save us and make us His children unto the glorious inheritance of eternal Life in Christ. Only in that sense can He now repent of the evil that He had purposed against us as we see in [Jeremiah 42:10](Jeremiah%2042.md#^10). > > But returning to Jeremiah 42:7-12, God responds with His Promises that override all of their ideas altogether about going into Egypt, as we'll see also in the following verses. ^jer42-7-12 > [Jeremiah 42:13](Jeremiah%2042.md#^13), [14](Jeremiah%2042.md#^14), [15](Jeremiah%2042.md#^15), [16](Jeremiah%2042.md#^16), [17](Jeremiah%2042.md#^17), [18](Jeremiah%2042.md#^18) note > > Despite their plans to go into Egypt, of which Jeremiah was well aware, God now gives them this big warning *not* to go into Egypt or they will be destroyed. There will be terrible consequences. And given all that has happened up until now with the destruction of Jerusalem and the slaughter of many under Gedeliah, and given how Jeremiah has always faithfully declared the Word of God, you would think that they would heed this last warning. But, as we'll see, God intensifies this warning to them in these and in the next several verses because they had already committed themselves to go into Egypt regardless of God's answer. And this is how strong our will and rebellion can become. It's very serious because we're taking on God Himself, it is something we should never, never do. But God's warning is very solid here. > > This is what happens when people are already convinced they know the Will of God and won't carefully and prayerfully check it out in the Bible. They may pay lip service to the Authority and Inspiration of the Bible, but they don't really believe it because they aren't actually following it. They think they already have it all figured out. > > Now, one thing we must understand is that Egypt is a picture of the world that they want to return to. Even in the 10 Commandments, God says, *"I \[am\] the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage"* ([Exo 20:2](Exodus%2020.md#^2)). And this world is like a house of bondage, we are in enslavement to sin before salvation. When we think of enslavement, we typically think of something very terrible, and that's true. But the way the world is, it is very attractive to our sinful flesh, and that's how it keeps us in bondage to it. Fun, games, sports, movies, TV, internet -- it all serves to keep people glued to this world. There are even specific sections to appeal to all kinds -- a car section, a vacation section, a section on food and wine, a section on sports. The world can just be so satisfying. There's a lust, an intense desire to live in Egypt, the very place from which God had delivered them from their bondage. And we can think of those in the wilderness who wanted to go back to Egypt, crying out for the melons, leeks, cucumbers, onions, garlic and the fish they had in Egypt ([Num 11:5](Numbers%2011.md#^5)) and so on -- forgetting that they were enslaved there with cruel taskmasters. In other words, it boils down to a love for the world. > > So this is like when the churches of our day had become more and more worldly until there is really very little difference. Like Johanan, they still pay lip-service to God, but regardless they go their own way anyway into Egypt, into the world. And, sadly, it was not just Johanan, but everyone who was left with him in Judah, down to the man, woman and child. And this is why, when you talk about the very nature of the Bible and of judgment and so on, they don't want to get into that. Why? Because they love the world. They found a way, they think, that they can be a child of God, they can be a faithful member of a church that assures them of such, and yet they can enjoy all of the pleasant things of this world. So why get into the Bible and disturb the equilibrium that exists? They're happy and do not want to hear about approaching judgment soon. They know they are safe and secure, so they'll go on their way. > > The kind of gospel they follow allows them to have a foot in the world while they are deceived into thinking that all is well. And they don't want to be moved from that. This is like when Johanan and the people inquired of the LORD concerning their plan to go down to Egypt but with the intention that God might grant them His approval, which He, of course, does not give. They love Egypt more than the Kingdom of God. > > Remember, the Bible says if you love the world then the love of the Father is not in you ([1 Jn 2:15](1%20John%202.md#^15)), and you cannot serve 2 masters ([Mt 6:24](Matthew%206.md#^24)). And God is strictly warning them right here in Jeremiah 42 ([vv15](Jeremiah%2042.md#^15), [16](Jeremiah%2042.md#^16), [17](Jeremiah%2042.md#^17), [18](Jeremiah%2042.md#^18)) not to go into Egypt or His wrath will come upon them and they will be destroyed. This warning is to the churches (and to all of us) that we cannot just follow Christ and be of the world in any sense. Any time we go our own way, any time we take on God, we are heading for total destruction. We had better listen because it is *going* to happen as God declares. And there was no ambiguity about God's response here. ^jer42-13-18 > [Jeremiah 42:19](Jeremiah%2042.md#^19), [20](Jeremiah%2042.md#^20), [21](Jeremiah%2042.md#^21), [22](Jeremiah%2042.md#^22) note > > Jeremiah is completely aware of their hypocrisy, so he's telling them through this warning that they are going to go into Egypt and die. Jeremiah isn't mincing any words or pulling any punches here. Of course, this is still the Word of God that we are reading here that Jeremiah is speaking, so it is from God Himself that he is saying this. He's coming with the facts that they've put themselves under the anger and fury of God because they've already purposed to go into Egypt. God knows all about what they are planning to do. ^jer42-19-22 Tags: #Old_Testament #Jeremiah #Gods_judgment_on_His_people #FSI