Don't go back to Egypt

Today's reading is from Jeremiah 42, 43, 44, 45

Much of the passages in Jeremiah occur after the captivity has begun. Jeremiah was granted the ability to stay in the land, along with others who were left by the Babylonians. Most of the nation was taken into captivity, but these few were left - and Jeremiah.

it wasn't long before the remnant of Jews began to think of leaving the land and heading for Egypt - presumably because Egypt would represent safety, prosperity, and a life apart from Babylonian rule. Jeremiah wants none of it. He hears from the Lord and conveys it quite clearly - we are not to go back to Egypt. While he knows there is fear from being under the Babylonian authority, he knows that Egypt will not serve as a safe-haven; in fact, the Lord shows him that those who go there will be less safe than those who stay behind.

Still they do not listen. In fact, what comes forth is not so much the issue of safety, but rather the issue of worship. There are those in the remnant who no long worship God, but have chosen a faith in an Egyptian deity - "The Queen of Heaven". To Jeremiah it represents the very reasons the nation fell to the Babylonians in the first place - their unfaithfulness to God and their casting their faith on to other deities.

In the end, Jeremiah gets a message from God: "Should you then seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them. For I will bring disaster on all people, declares the lord, but wherever you go I will let you escape with your life.'"

The remnant will prove to be as unfaithful as the others, but Jeremiah's faithfulness will keep him in God's protection.

It's hard for any of us to translate all of this to our own day. Yet, it remains a principle that I believe is still true: "Be faithful to me and I will be faithful to you." That is my hope and prayer.

Peace

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