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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 3 of 5
Jeremiah 43:1-13
In turning to Jeremiah the people had solemnly undertaken to listen to the voice of the LORD "whether it be good, or whether it be evil" (Jeremiah 42:6). The reply could not have been clearer: they were not to leave. But that order did not fit in with the secret intentions of Johann and his companions. Their hearts had been led astray (Jeremiah 42:20), and they were determined to go into Egypt. Jeremiah 41:17 shows us that they had already planned this upon arrival at Chimham, even before consulting Jeremiah. Is it not mocking God to ask Him what His will is, knowing full well beforehand what you intend to do? Sadly such dishonesty happens more often than we think and we all need to be wary of our deceitful hearts (Jeremiah 17:9).
Yet again Jeremiah suffers unfairly. He is accused by these "proud men" of lying and seeking to have the people enslaved and killed. This man, on the contrary, shows the extent of his love by again accompanying the people on their disastrous journey.
They planned to go into hiding but that is precisely where Nebuchadnezzar will catch up with them (v. 11). Steps taken through lack of faith often bring us face to face with the problem we wanted to avoid.
