Jeremiah 42:1-22
Q.1. What did the survivors ask from Jeremiah? Was their attitude right toward God and His prophet? – (Jer.42:1-6)
Ishmael had killed the Governor who had been appointed by Babylon, and the Chaldean soldiers (Jer.41:1-3). Therefore, the survivors were in serious trouble. Realizing their fragile position, they asked – that the Lord your God may tell us the way in which we should walk and the thing that we should do (Jer.42:3). Their surrender seemed to be complete, when they added – May the Lord be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with the whole message with which the Lord your God will send you to us. 6 Whether it is pleasant or unpleasant, we will listen to the voice of the Lord our God to whom we are sending you, so that it may go well with us when we listen to the voice of the Lord our God (Jer.42:5-6).
Q.2. How did God encourage the remnant of Judah to stay in the land? – (Jer.42:7-17)
God brought encouragement to the remnant through Jeremiah – 11 Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, whom you are now fearing; do not be afraid of him,’ declares the Lord, ‘for I am with you to save you and deliver you from his hand. 12 I will also show you compassion, so that he will have compassion on you and restore you to your own soil. 13 But if you are going to say, “We will not stay in this land,” so as not to listen to the voice of the Lord your God … “If you really set your mind to enter Egypt and go in to reside there, 16 then the sword, which you are afraid of, will overtake you there in the land of Egypt; and the famine, about which you are anxious, will follow closely after you there in Egypt, and you will die there (Jer.42:11-16). God outlined a way of survival for the obedient.
Q.3. On what basis did the prophet Jeremiah testify against the remnant of Judah? What is the lesson for us? – (Jer.42:18-22)
Jeremiah had heard the vows that the remnant had made, where they promised to obey the Lord, come what may. Now, however, they were determined to break their vow (Jer.42:20-21 c.f. Ecc.5:1-7). They accused Jeremiah of lying and making up the prophecy (Jer.42:19 c.f. Jer.43:2). Their disobedience would intensify God’s judgment on the remnant – 18 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, “As My anger and wrath have been poured out on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so My wrath will be poured out on you when you enter Egypt … 19 The Lord has spoken to you, O remnant of Judah, “Do not go into Egypt!” You should clearly understand that today I have testified against you … 22 Therefore you should now clearly understand that you will die by the sword, by famine and by pestilence, in the place where you wish to go to reside (Jer.42:18-19, 22). There is no future in resisting God’s will.