Don't Make a Fatal Mistake
Comments for Study 31
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I. Gedaliah Assassinated (41:1-15)
>1. What did Ishmael have in mind when he killed the governor of Judah? (1-3)
* Jeremiah 41:1-3 "In the seventh month Ishmael son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, who was of royal blood and had been one of the king's officers, came with ten men to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah. While they were eating together there, Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the ten men who were with him got up and struck down Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, with the sword, killing the one whom the king of Babylon had appointed as governor over the land.
3 Ishmael also killed all the Jews who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah, as well as the Babylonian soldiers who were there."
* Jeremiah 41 and 2 Kings 25:25-26 record the same event.
The Lord had sent the Babylonians to punish his people. Nebuchadnezzar had taken many people to Babylon, burned Judah's cities, including Jerusalem and destroyed the temple. He put Gedaliah in charge as governor. Gedaliah was not a descendant of David. He was warned of an assassination. He didn't believe it. He was wrong.
Ishmael had royal blood. He killed the governor. Then he killed 80 who perhaps he thought were of Babylon's government in Judah because they did not have beards. He took young woman of royal blood as captives. He wanted to rule Judah. He and the men with him had not accepted that everything that had happened to Judah was punishment for their sin. When things went bad for them, they fleed Judah. He was wrong.
Neither Ishmael nor Gedaliah sought the Lord's will. They just acted as they saw fit. They made wrong decisions.
How can I know the Lord's will for me? How can I be sure I do as he wants? I had read devotionals, sat in studies, and listened to messages on the subject. They say I should pray, meditate, perhaps fast, not go against God's word in the Bible, and to seek advice from mature people who love God and know his word.
I could stay stuck at this point, always seeking, and not making decisions. That would be wrong. Not acting is not faith. Faith is only completed when I act on it. Eventually, I make a decision and act on it praying, "Lord, your will be done. I know your will is best for me. If this is your will, then open the doors that need to be opened. And close the doors that I am to not go through." People call this, "putting out the fleece. "
The interesting thing about this prayer is I know that many times God's will is a road not often and not easily traveled. A life lived by faith is not easy. Sacrifices are often in the decisions made by faith. Otherwise, they would not take faith. Jesus said that I will have troubles in this world, but I am to take heart for he has overcome the world. And none of the prophets nor apostles had easy care free lives, nor did Jesus. Most were poor, not rich as some prosperity preachers teach. Hebrews 11:35-38.
Not only that, when I reach the conclusion and destination things often aren't easier nor perfect nor desirable. New decisions are needed to be made that are just as unclear and confusing and hard as the previous decisions.
Another truth is that when decisions are made according to this way Satan often tries to interfere. For example,, when Jesus started for Jerusalem knowing he would be tortured several people including Peter told him not to go. The charactor Christian in the book Pilgrims Progress experienced this too.
I also know that as I do all these, it does not guarantee that I will always make the right and best decision. I may fool myself thinking I am doing God will when I am in fact doing my will. I will make mistakes at times. I may follow my sinful nature. I will be in error at times. I will make foolish decisions at time.
So, after knowing all this, there is one more thing I have learned. I do not and cannot live in the past. I do not and cannot live in regret and could have beens. I should learn from past decisions. I should repent and ask for forgiveness from sins, mistakes, and errors made in the past. But I should not live in past, repeating over and over again in my mind the past. I need to move on. I need to continually live by faith. Living by faith is only lived in the present. It is not lived in the past, nor the future.
Choices are a gift of God that must be exercised in God's will and in faith of his unconditional love for me.
* Jeremiah 42 and 2 Kings 25:25-26 record this same event too.
The very few remnant of Israel that remained in Judah went to Jeremiah and asked him to acquire of the Lord where they should go and what they are to do. I notice they said "Your God", not "Our God". This happened right after a group of men committed a series of crimes including assassinating the governor that Nebuchadnezzar put in charge. They knew that the Babylonian army could show up again because of this.
Jeremiah agreed to go to the Lord in prayer. An answer came 10 days later. He told them to stay, not to go to Egypt as they apparently were planning, perhaps because the answer toke so long in coming.
I too grow impatient when I pray and seek God's will and no answer comes right away. The Lord often tests my resolve and faith when I come to him, just as he did the remnant of Israel in this way. I am waiting for answers to several prayers. Yet, I want to think I am waiting, but in careful thought I have made decisions similar to the remnant who went to Jeremiah.
Lord forgive my impatient heart. I want to believe and wait, but I am weak. Override any rash decisions I have made. I trust in you.
* Jeremiah 43 and 2 Kings 25:25-26 record the same time. The year is around 580 BC. Jeremiah was an old man.
After saying they would do whatever the Lord told them to do, the remnant of Judah who where mostly people who had come back to live in Judah from all the nations where they had been scattered strongly rejected the word of God from Jeremiah. They went to Egypt bringing Jeremiah with them.
Why do we say one thing then often do another? Hypocrisy is one reason, but not in this case. This passage says the remnant were arrogant. They were overly self confident. They thought high of their ability. When I am arrogant I believe I don't need God. Humility is the opposite of arrogance.
Jesus said I am to be like a child if I am to enter the kingdom of God. One of the fine quality of the very young is humility and trust. Humility is not putting myself down. Its knowing that even if have ability I accept my limitations.
>What were the men in verses 4-5 doing? (16:6-7; Leviticus 19:27-28; Micah 1:16)
* Jeremiah 41:4-5 "The day after Gedaliah's assassination, before anyone knew about it, eighty men who had shaved off their beards, torn their clothes and cut themselves came from Shechem, Shiloh and Samaria, bringing grain offerings and incense with them to the house of the LORD."
* Jeremiah 16:6-7 "Both high and low will die in this land. They will not be buried or mourned, and no one will cut himself or shave his head for them. No one will offer food to comfort those who mourn for the dead--not even for a father or a mother--nor will anyone give them a drink to console them."
* Leviticus 19:27-28 "Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard. Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD."
* Deuteronomy 14:1 "You are the children of the LORD your God. Do not cut yourselves or shave the front of your heads for the dead,"
* Ezekiel 7:18 "They will put on sackcloth and be clothed with terror. Their faces will be covered with shame and their heads will be shaved."
* Micah 1:16 "Shave your heads in mourning for the children in whom you delight; make yourselves as bald as the vulture, for they will go from you into exile."
>What did Ishmael do to them?
* Jeremiah 41:6-7 "Ishmael son of Nethaniah went out from Mizpah to meet them, weeping as he went. When he met them, he said, "Come to Gedaliah son of Ahikam." When they went into the city, Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the men who were with him slaughtered them and threw them into a cistern."
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>What does this show about his understanding of the exile?
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>2. How were ten able to escape Ishmael's cruelty?
* Jeremiah 41:8 "But ten of them said to Ishmael, "Don't kill us! We have wheat and barley, oil and honey, hidden in a field." So he let them alone and did not kill them with the others."
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>Where did he put the dead?
* Jeremiah 41:9 "Now the cistern where he threw all the bodies of the men he had killed along with Gedaliah was the one King Asa had made as part of his defense against Baasha king of Israel. Ishmael son of Nethaniah filled it with the dead."
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>Where was he going to take the captives?
* Jeremiah 41:10 "Ishmael made captives of all the rest of the people who were in Mizpah--the king's daughters along with all the others who were left there, over whom Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam. Ishmael son of Nethaniah took them captive and set out to cross over to the Ammonites."
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>Why is it important to note that the king's daughters were with him?
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>3. Who chased after Ishmael?
* Jeremiah 41:11-15 "When Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers who were with him heard about all the crimes Ishmael son of Nethaniah had committed,
12 they took all their men and went to fight Ishmael son of Nethaniah. They caught up with him near the great pool in Gibeon.
13 When all the people Ishmael had with him saw Johanan son of Kareah and the army officers who were with him, they were glad.
14 All the people Ishmael had taken captive at Mizpah turned and went over to Johanan son of Kareah.
15 But Ishmael son of Nethaniah and eight of his men escaped from Johanan and fled to the Ammonites."
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>How did the people with Ishmael respond when they saw him?
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II. Pray to the Lord your God (41:16-42:6)
>4. Why did Johanan do with those he rescued?
* Jeremiah 41:16-17 "Then Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers who were with him led away all the survivors from Mizpah whom he had recovered from Ishmael son of Nethaniah after he had assassinated Gedaliah son of Ahikam: the soldiers, women, children and court officials he had brought from Gibeon. And they went on, stopping at Geruth Kimham near Bethlehem on their way to Egypt"
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>Why might Johanan decide to go to Egypt with those he rescued?
* Jeremiah 41:18 "to escape the Babylonians. They were afraid of them because Ishmael son of Nethaniah had killed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon had appointed as governor over the land."
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>5. What did the remnant want Jeremiah to do for them? (42:1-2)
* Jeremiah 42:1-2 "Then all the army officers, including Johanan son of Kareah and Jezaniah son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least to the greatest approached Jeremiah the prophet and said to him, "Please hear our petition and pray to the LORD your God for this entire remnant. For as you now see, though we were once many, now only a few are left."
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>What specifically did they want to know? (3)
* Jeremiah 42:3 "Pray that the LORD your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do."
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>What does this show about Jeremiah's new status with the remnant?
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>6. Did Jeremiah agree with their request?
* Jeremiah 42:4 "I have heard you," replied Jeremiah the prophet. "I will certainly pray to the LORD your God as you have requested; I will tell you everything the LORD says and will keep nothing back from you."
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>What did they agree to do?
* Jeremiah 42:5-6 "Then they said to Jeremiah, "May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with everything the LORD your God sends you to tell us. Whether it is favorable or unfavorable, we will obey the LORD our God, to whom we are sending you, so that it will go well with us, for we will obey the LORD our God."
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>Had Jeremiah heard these kinds of promises before?
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III. Stay in the Land (42:7-22)
>7. How long did Jeremiah pray before an answer came?
* Jeremiah 42:7-9 "Ten days later the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah.
8 So he called together Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers who were with him and all the people from the least to the greatest.
9 He said to them, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your petition, says:"
* Jeremiah 42 and 2 Kings 25:25-26.
The very few remnant of Israel that remained in Judah went to Jeremiah and asked him to acquire of the Lord where they should go and what they are to do. I notice they said "Your God", not "Our God". This happened right after a group of men committed a series of crimes including assassinating the governor that Nebuchadnezzar put in charge. They knew that the Babylonian army could show up again because of this.
Jeremiah agreed to go to the Lord in prayer. An answer came 10 days later. He told them to stay, not to go to Egypt as they apparently were planning, perhaps because the answer toke so long in coming.
I too grow impatient when I pray and seek God's will and no answer comes right away. The Lord often tests my resolve and faith when I come to him, just as he did the remnant of Israel in this way. I am waiting for answers to several prayers. Yet, I want to think I am waiting, but in careful thought I have made decisions similar to the remnant who went to Jeremiah.
Lord forgive my impatient heart. I want to believe and wait, but I am weak. Override any rash decisions I have made. I trust in you.
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>What were they to do?
* Jeremiah 42:10 "'If you stay in this land, I will build you up and not tear you down; I will plant you and not uproot you, for I am grieved over the disaster I have inflicted on you."
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>What words of comfort did the Lord give them? (11-12)
* Jeremiah 42:11-12 "Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, whom you now fear. Do not be afraid of him, declares the LORD, for I am with you and will save you and deliver you from his hands. I will show you compassion so that he will have compassion on you and restore you to your land.'"
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>8. What warning were they given? (13-18)
* Jeremiah 42:13-18 "However, if you say, 'We will not stay in this land,' and so disobey the LORD your God,
14 and if you say, 'No, we will go and live in Egypt, where we will not see war or hear the trumpet or be hungry for bread,'
15 then hear the word of the LORD, O remnant of Judah. This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: 'If you are determined to go to Egypt and you do go to settle there,
16 then the sword you fear will overtake you there, and the famine you dread will follow you into Egypt, and there you will die.
17 Indeed, all who are determined to go to Egypt to settle there will die by the sword, famine and plague; not one of them will survive or escape the disaster I will bring on them.
18 This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: 'As my anger and wrath have been poured out on those who lived in Jerusalem, so will my wrath be poured out on you when you go to Egypt. You will be an object of cursing and horror, of condemnation and reproach; you will never see this place again.'"
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>Why might the Lord want leave Jews in the promised land?
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>9. What fatal mistake had they made?
* Jeremiah 42:19-20 "O remnant of Judah, the LORD has told you, 'Do not go to Egypt.' Be sure of this: I warn you today
20 that you made a fatal mistake when you sent me to the LORD your God and said, 'Pray to the LORD our God for us; tell us everything he says and we will do it.'"
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>What will happen to them?
* Jeremiah 42:21-22 "I have told you today, but you still have not obeyed the LORD your God in all he sent me to tell you.
22 So now, be sure of this: You will die by the sword, famine and plague in the place where you want to go to settle."
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>Why is it important to obey the Lord even though it is not easy or what we want?
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IV. Egypt's End Predicted (43:1-13)
>10. What did they accuse Jeremiah of? (1-3)
* Jeremiah 43:1-3 "When Jeremiah finished telling the people all the words of the LORD their God--everything the LORD had sent him to tell them--
2 Azariah son of Hoshaiah and Johanan son of Kareah and all the arrogant men said to Jeremiah, "You are lying! The LORD our God has not sent you to say, 'You must not go to Egypt to settle there.'
3 But Baruch son of Neriah is inciting you against us to hand us over to the Babylonians, so they may kill us or carry us into exile to Babylon."
* Jeremiah 43 and 2 Kings 25:25-26 record the same time. The year is around 580 BC. Jeremiah was an old man.
After saying they would do whatever the Lord told them to do, the remnant of Judah who where mostly people who had come back to live in Judah from all the nations where they had been scattered strongly rejected the word of God from Jeremiah. They went to Egypt bringing Jeremiah with them.
Why do we say one thing then often do another? Hypocrisy is one reason, but not in this case. This passage says the remnant were arrogant. They were overly self confident. They thought high of their ability. When I am arrogant I believe I don't need God. Humility is the opposite of arrogance.
Jesus said I am to be like a child if I am to enter the kingdom of God. One of the fine quality of the very young is humility and trust. Humility is not putting myself down. Its knowing that even if have ability I accept my limitations.
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>What did they do? (4-7)
* Jeremiah 43:4-7 "So Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers and all the people disobeyed the LORD's command to stay in the land of Judah.
5 Instead, Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers led away all the remnant of Judah who had come back to live in the land of Judah from all the nations where they had been scattered.
6 They also led away all the men, women and children and the king's daughters whom Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard had left with Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, and Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch son of Neriah.
7 So they entered Egypt in disobedience to the LORD and went as far as Tahpanhes."
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>What did the Lord tell Jeremiah to do?
* Jeremiah 43:8-9 "In Tahpanhes the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah:
9 "While the Jews are watching, take some large stones with you and bury them in clay in the brick pavement at the entrance to Pharaoh's palace in Tahpanhes."
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>Who was the Lord going to send to Egypt to get the rebellious Jews? (10-13)
* Jeremiah 43:10-13 "Then say to them, 'This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I will send for my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and I will set his throne over these stones I have buried here; he will spread his royal canopy above them.
11 He will come and attack Egypt, bringing death to those destined for death, captivity to those destined for captivity, and the sword to those destined for the sword.
12 He will set fire to the temples of the gods of Egypt; he will burn their temples and take their gods captive. As a shepherd wraps his garment around him, so will he wrap Egypt around himself and depart from there unscathed.
13 There in the temple of the sun in Egypt he will demolish the sacred pillars and will burn down the temples of the gods of Egypt.'"
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>How does this explain man's fundamental problem?
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