As the Jewish captives were being led out of Jerusalem the Babylonian commander picked out Jeremiah. He had evidently heard about Jeremiah’s predictions and felt compelled to set the prophet free. Before leaving, the commander appointed a pro-Babylonian Jew called Gedaliah to watch over the small band of peasants that remained in Judah to care for the land. There was soon a small uprising and Gedaliah was assassinated by a Jew called Ishmael. This uprising was in turn quashed internally, but the damage was done. The remaining Jews fearing Babylonian reprisals for Gedaliah’s death started fleeing to Egypt. En route they came across the sad, lone figure of Jeremiah who warned them not to flee to Egypt. He promised them that God would care for them in their own land if they stayed. God had made allowance for them to stay and care for the precious land and God would enable them to prosper here. However, they would not listen to Jeremiah. Not only did they flee to Egypt, but they took Jeremiah with them. It is a sad end for this sad prophet. He would die in Egypt, back where Israel began. If they would have obeyed the word of God that he spoke to them this group of peasants would have prospered in the land of their forefathers. Instead, they would flounder in Egypt. It is yet another tragedy caused by people’s refusal to listen to God. If there is one bit of advice I would offer, it is this: always seek to hear and know what God is saying to you. You cannot afford to not listen to God.
Be still and reflect on what God is saying to you.
Read Jeremiah 40-43
