Jeremiah doesn't do any prophesying in this chapter. We find him bound in chains. The Nebuzaradan commander frees him and gives him a choice. Go to Babylon and he will take care of Jeremiah or stay with the remnant. Jeremiah chooses to stay with the remnant.
Meanwhile, Gedaliah has been left in charge of the remnant in the Yehud province. But, not all of the God's people are pleased with this turn of events. Most of their people have just been carried off as prisoners to a foreign country and some of those who have been left behind are plotting to kill Gedaliah. Gedaliah doesn't believe it! He cannot believe that Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, would try to destroy him and ultimately divide and scatter the rest of the remnant. Politics!
It has been a difficult morning as I have been considering the plight of and praying for the Coptic Christians in Egypt this morning. At least 40 Christian churches were destroyed this week. Politics! Even Religion! So much turmoil! What causes it all! Could it be the fear of losing what one has had? Maybe, anger over the recent changes in the country? Could it be the fear of change? It just kind of baffles me that when things don't go our way, rather than face and address the situation appropriately, we sometimes attack, not the one(s) who is actually at the root of the problem, but the one who we don't care for, but is closer and more vulnerable. As individuals, we do it all the time. The problem is too big for us to handle alone, so we attack anyone and anything that irritates us. We end up attacking the symptom not the problem. Kind of reminds me of a few doctors... That is just what some of the remnant are about to do. They are frustrated and angry over the deportation of their people to Babylon. They can't stand up to Nebuchadnezzar's forces so they will attack Gedaliah, one of their own, who has been placed in charge of them.
Doesn't make sense to me to attack the symptom when the cause overwhelms us.
Doesn't make sense to me to not trust the LORD to see us through the disasters that come upon us and to give us the strength and courage to endure. Seems like God's people in Jeremiah's day were really having a hard time learning this. Seems to me that they will probably be bringing more trouble to themselves. May God help us to avoid all troubles by listening to His Word and doing His will.
God's Peace - Pr. J
Meanwhile, Gedaliah has been left in charge of the remnant in the Yehud province. But, not all of the God's people are pleased with this turn of events. Most of their people have just been carried off as prisoners to a foreign country and some of those who have been left behind are plotting to kill Gedaliah. Gedaliah doesn't believe it! He cannot believe that Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, would try to destroy him and ultimately divide and scatter the rest of the remnant. Politics!
It has been a difficult morning as I have been considering the plight of and praying for the Coptic Christians in Egypt this morning. At least 40 Christian churches were destroyed this week. Politics! Even Religion! So much turmoil! What causes it all! Could it be the fear of losing what one has had? Maybe, anger over the recent changes in the country? Could it be the fear of change? It just kind of baffles me that when things don't go our way, rather than face and address the situation appropriately, we sometimes attack, not the one(s) who is actually at the root of the problem, but the one who we don't care for, but is closer and more vulnerable. As individuals, we do it all the time. The problem is too big for us to handle alone, so we attack anyone and anything that irritates us. We end up attacking the symptom not the problem. Kind of reminds me of a few doctors... That is just what some of the remnant are about to do. They are frustrated and angry over the deportation of their people to Babylon. They can't stand up to Nebuchadnezzar's forces so they will attack Gedaliah, one of their own, who has been placed in charge of them.
Doesn't make sense to me to attack the symptom when the cause overwhelms us.
Doesn't make sense to me to not trust the LORD to see us through the disasters that come upon us and to give us the strength and courage to endure. Seems like God's people in Jeremiah's day were really having a hard time learning this. Seems to me that they will probably be bringing more trouble to themselves. May God help us to avoid all troubles by listening to His Word and doing His will.
God's Peace - Pr. J
