The remnant of Israel left in the land was uncertain of their future, so they asked Jeremiah to seek the Lord for a word. They promised that whatever God said, they would do as He said. It was a promise. They made a vow. Whether favorable or unfavorable, they would do as the Lord said.
So Jeremiah sought the Lord and came back to the people with a word from God. But the people didn't like what God had said, so they disobeyed the Lord. No matter that they had vowed obedience. God hadn't said what they wanted Him to say, so they called Jeremiah a liar.
We cannot seek the Lord simply for an approval stamp for the plans we have already made. But that is exactly what the people did with Jeremiah. They wanted Him to say a particular thing, but He said just the opposite.
In this story, Egypt becomes a type of the secular world. Sometimes life gets hard when you are following the Lord. Circumstance and people seem to conspire to make your way difficult, if not impossible.
When that happens, it would be so easy to rely on the "wisdom" of the world. But that is precisely what the Christian is called NOT to do. When we do that, we will suffer famine and death. Perhaps not physically, but spiritually.
Let us resolve to seek the Lord, without prejudice, and obey Him unconditionally. We need to keep our promises to God.
Father, God,
Share with us Your wisdom. Keep us from the folly of listening to the world and letting its noise drown out Your words. Help us to continue faithfully on the path You set before us.
In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.
Amen.
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