Jeremiah 40-44, Psalm 138
Jeremiah 42:19-22 (NLT)
“‘Listen, you remnant of Judah. The Lord has told you: ‘Do not go to Egypt!’ Don’t forget this warning I have given you today. For you were not being honest when you sent me to pray to the Lord your God for you. You said, ‘Just tell us what the Lord our God says, and we will do it!’ And today I have told you exactly what he said, but you will not obey the Lord your God any better now than you have in the past. So you can be sure that you will die from war, famine, and disease in Egypt, where you insist on going.’”
In Jeremiah 42:19–22, Jeremiah exposes the hypocrisy in the hearts of the military leaders who asked him to pray to the Lord to show them what to do and where to go. The Lord told them what to do, but He knew in their hearts that they were not sincere and were not speaking truthfully. Father-God told them they would disobey Him, go to Egypt anyway, and die there.
These verses remind believers that the Lord knows what is in our hearts. Father-God can tell when we are being insincere, even when we ask Him for help and guidance. Believers need to make sure they are truly open to the Lord’s direction because they may receive guidance that is contrary to their personal desires. We must trust and align ourselves with the plans of the Lord if we want to remain obedient to Him. These verses also remind believers that failing to follow the Lord’s guidance can lead to terrible consequences. If believers rely only on their own judgment and solutions, they will suffer the consequences of those choices.
What I love about these verses is that the Lord had foreknowledge that the request from the military leaders was not sincere, yet He still gave them guidance. The Lord also knew they would not obey Him and would instead do what they wanted, but He still wanted to offer them the opportunity to repent of their disobedience and follow His guidance. The Lord is merciful to His people, and even when He knows what is in our hearts and what our actions will be, He still gives us opportunities to repent and align ourselves with His will.
If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who always offers His people the opportunity for repentance—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer. Tell Him you trust Him and desire to walk with Him. He is faithful, and He will meet you exactly where you are.
Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit–filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord’s love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.
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