Though this is not the end of the book of Jeremiah, chapter 44 contains the prophet’s last recorded words. He is, at this time, living in Egypt with the small band of Jews who fled from Jerusalem despite being told by God not to. So, the end of the story for Jeremiah is a return to the beginning. This small band of Jews are back where the Israelites began in Egypt under the authority of Pharaoh and worshipping the gods of the Egyptians. It is a sad ending to a sad book. It is not the ending to the story of the Bible thankfully and Jeremiah was able to look beyond this tragedy. However, unfortunately, it is the way many lives go today. People find God, and for a while they walk with him. But it often happens that the influences of the world start to overcome their relationship with God, and they end up back where they began. It is one of the greatest tragedies, and unfortunately, as a Pastor, I see it happening all too often. I can see face after face of people who once walked with God for a while but then got drawn back into the ‘Egypt’ they came from. Think of those who you know who have slipped away from God and pray for them today. This chapter is tragic indeed, but it demonstrates that at least God was still calling out to his people who had returned to Egypt. It demonstrates that God had not given up on them. If God perseveres with people like this, then so should you. Keep praying for those people.
Pray for those you know who have fallen away from God.
Read Jeremiah 44
