In these studies in the second half of the book of Jeremiah,  we will see God’s word coming through Jeremiah and being rejected again and again. We will see the difficulties of Jeremiah but also the way he is saved through it all. Jeremiah is God’s reporter on the spot, in the midst of one of the most tumultuous periods in Israel’s history.

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, and the particular theme, as with studies elsewhere, each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read on the main Bible page.

Seeking God about Egypt

Jer 41:16-42:6

¹⁶ Then Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers who were with him led away all the people of Mizpah who had survived, whom Johanan had recovered from Ishmael son of Nethaniah after Ishmael had assassinated Gedaliah son of Ahikam—the soldiers, women, children and court officials he had recovered from Gibeon. ¹⁷ And they went on, stopping at Geruth Kimham near Bethlehem on their way to Egypt 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.

1 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 ² 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. ³ Pray that the Lord your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do.”

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.”

⁵ 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. ⁶ 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.”

A. Find Out

1. What had happened to Gedaliah? v.16
2. Where were the survivors making for? v.17
3. Why were they doing this? v.18
4. What did they ask Jeremiah to pray? v.2,3
5. What did Jeremiah say he would do? v.4
6. What was their response? v.5,6

B. Think:

1. How has Jeremiah’s position changed since we last saw him?
2. Why has it changed?
3. How does his relationship with the Lord help him in this present position?

C. Comment:

Gedaliah had been appointed Governor of the area by the Babylonians, but soon the fleeing Israelite army officers had returned (40:7-12). Despite being warned about it (40:13-16) Gedaliah took no precautions against being killed and was eventually assassinated     (41:1-3). The murderer eventually fled (41:11-15) leaving the remnant fearful of what the Babylonians might do in response. Jeremiah is still with this remnant.  These are the facts of the present situation.

The remnant, using human reasoning, decide the only thing to do under the circumstances is to flee southwards, in the opposite direction to the Babylonians and, almost as an afterthought, they ask Jeremiah to enquire of the Lord for them.

It is not unusual to find unbelievers, finding themselves in difficult circumstances, turning and expecting help or direction from God.  All we can do those situations is graciously to seek to share God’s heart with them, speaking the truth in love.  Others’ mistakes can open the way for the Lord to move in.  Indeed people often only come to their senses and seek God when their mistakes blow up on them.

D. Application:

1. Are we alert to the situations around us, ready to share God’s love and wisdom with those who cry out for help in their difficulties?
2. Can we be Jesus to such people?