the survivors ask the lord for advice but refuse to follow...

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THE SURVIVORS ASK THE LORD FOR ADVICE BUT REFUSE TO FOLLOW IT

JEREMIAH 42:1-22

Landmark Publications, Inc., 1045 Maynor Street, Nashville, TN., 37216, U.S.A., John C. Sewell, Ph.D., Editor

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org/


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The Survivors Ask the Lord for Advice but Refuse to Follow It

Text: Jeremiah 42:1-22, 1. Then all the army officers, including Johanan son of Kareah and Jezaniah son of Hoshaiah and all the people of every class, went to the prophet Jeremiah. 2. They said to him, “Please grant our request and pray to the Lord your God for all those of us who are still left alive here. For, as you yourself can see, there are only a few of us left out of the many there were before. 3. Pray that the Lord your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do.” 4. The prophet Jeremiah answered them, “Agreed! I will indeed pray to the Lord your God as you have asked. I will tell you everything the Lord replies in response to you. I will not keep anything back from you.” 5. They answered Jeremiah, “May the Lord be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not do just as the Lord sends you to tell us to do. 6. We will obey what the Lord our God to whom we are sending you tells us to do. It does not matter whether we like what he tells us or not. We will obey what he tells us to do so that things will go well for us.” 7. Ten days later the Lord spoke to Jeremiah. 8. So Jeremiah summoned Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers who were with him and all the people of every class.




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9. Then Jeremiah said to them, “You sent me to the Lord God of Israel to make your request known to him. Here is what he says to you: 10. ‘If you will just stay in this land, I will build you up. I will not tear you down. I will firmly plant you. I will not uproot you. For I am filled with sorrow because of the disaster that I have brought on you. 11. Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon whom you now fear. Do not be afraid of him because I will be with you to save you and to rescue you from his power. I, the Lord, affirm it! 12. I will have compassion on you so that he in turn will have mercy on you and allow you to return to your land.’ 13. “You must not disobey the Lord your God by saying, ‘We will not stay in this land.’ 14. You must not say, ‘No, we will not stay. Instead we will go and live in the land of Egypt where we will not face war, or hear the enemy’s trumpet calls, or starve for lack of food.’ 15. If you people who remain in Judah do that, then listen to what the Lord says. The Lord God of Israel who rules over all says, ‘If you are so determined to go to Egypt that you go and settle there, 16. the wars you fear will catch up with you there in the land of Egypt. The starvation you are worried about will follow you there to Egypt. You will die there. 17. All the people who are determined to go and settle in Egypt will die from war, starvation, or disease. No one will survive or escape the disaster I will bring on them.’ 18. For the Lord God of Israel who rules over all says, ‘If you go to Egypt, I will pour out my wrath on you just as I poured out my anger and wrath on the citizens of




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Jerusalem. You will become an object of horror and ridicule, an example of those who have been cursed and that people use in pronouncing a curse. You will never see this place again.’ 19. “The Lord has told you people who remain in Judah, ‘Do not go to Egypt.’ Be very sure of this: I warn you here and now. 20. You are making a fatal mistake. For you sent me to the Lord your God and asked me, ‘Pray to the Lord our God for us. Tell us what the Lord our God says and we will do it.’ 21. This day I have told you what he said. But you do not want to obey the Lord by doing what he sent me to tell you. 22. So now be very sure of this: You will die from war, starvation, or disease in the place where you want to go and live.” (NET) Introduction: I. Coffman outlined Jeremiah 42 as follows: . . .

A. The people request God’s word of Jeremiah (verses 1-3); . . . B. Jeremiah promises to pray for them, and the people promise to obey God’s word (verses 4-6); . . . C. After ten (10) days, God replies (verses 7-8); . . . D. The command to remain in Judea (verses 9-12); . . . E. Severe warning against moving to Egypt (verses 13-18; and . . .




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F. A prophecy of destruction for those going to Egypt (verses 19-22).

Commentary: Jeremiah 42:1, Then all the army officers, including Johanan son of Kareah and Jezaniah son of Hoshaiah and all the people of every class, went to the prophet Jeremiah. (NET) I. Then all the army officers, including Johanan son of Kareah and Jezaniah son of Hoshaiah* and all the people of every class** went to the prophet Jeremiah.

A. *NET Footnote: Perhaps the same Jezaniah in Jeremiah 40:8, So all these officers and their troops came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. The officers who came were Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah son of the Maacathite. (NET) B. **NET Footnote: Or all the people without distinction; Hebrew – from the least to the greatest (also in verse 8). C. Hamilton wrote that the entire group including those in the military company of and those rescued by Johanan did not know what to do or where to go.

1. They approached Jeremiah, the one among them who could pray and expect to have his prayer answered.

D. Willis observed that Jeremiah was certainly among those captured at Mizpah by Ishmael, but he has not been mentioned until now.




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E. Jezaniah is also known as Azamiah and Jaazaniah. He was one of the Judahite “captains” who allied himself with Gedaliah and remained at Mizpah after Judah was deported to Babylon. He was a son of Hoshaiah the Maachiathite. (Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

1. Jeremiah 43:2, Then Azariah son of Hoshaiah, Johanan son of Kareah, and other arrogant men said to Jeremiah, “You are telling a lie! The Lord our God did not send you to tell us, ‘You must not go to Egypt and settle there.’ (NET) 2. Jeremiah 42:1, Then all the army officers, including Johanan son of Kareah and Jezaniah son of Hoshaiah and all the people of every class, went to the prophet Jeremiah. (NET) 3. Jeremiah 25:23, the people of Dedan, Tema, Buz, all the desert people who cut their hair short at the temples; (NET)

F. The “army officers” or the “captains of the forces” refer to the different leaders of the small bands or companies, Clarke wrote. G. Jeremiah was one of the refugees at Mizpah and, consequently, was forced to go with Ishmael and was “rescued” by Johanan. (See The Pulpit Commentary.)

1. Jeremiah 40:6, So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah and lived




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there with him. He stayed there to live among the people who had been left in the land of Judah. (NET) 2. Jeremiah 41:16, Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers who were with him led off all the people who had been left alive at Mizpah. They had rescued them from Ishmael son of Nethaniah after he killed Gedaliah son of Ahikam. They led off the men, women, children, soldiers, and court officials whom they had brought away from Gibeon. (NET)

Jeremiah 42:2, They said to him, “Please grant our request and pray to the Lord your God for all those of us who are still left alive here. For, as you yourself can see, there are only a few of us left out of the many there were before. (NET) I. They said to him, “Please grant our request and pray to the Lord your God for all those of us who are still left alive here.

A. This reminds the reader of a similar request Zedekiah had made of Jeremiah. (Willis)

1. Jeremiah 37:3, King Zedekiah sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah to the prophet Jeremiah. He told them to say, “Please pray to the Lord our God on our behalf.” (NET)

B. Jehovah is here referenced as “your (Jeremiah’s) God” indicating that Jeremiah enjoyed the LORD’s favor while their status before the LORD is less certain, Willis wrote.




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C. Coffman wrote that Jeremiah had previously been forbidden to pray for the rebellious people, but he was now free to pray for those left in the land following the fall of Jerusalem.

1. Jeremiah 7:17, Do you see what they are doing in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? (NET) 2. Jeremiah 11:14, So, Jeremiah, do not pray for these people. Do not cry out to me or petition me on their behalf. Do not plead with me to save them. For I will not listen to them when they call out to me for help when disaster strikes them.” (NET) 3. Jeremiah 14:11, Then the Lord said to me, “Do not pray for good to come to these people! (NET)

II. For, as you yourself can see, there are only a few of us left out of the many that were before.

A. Those remaining were few, only a remnant, compared to the number in Jerusalem before the city fell and certainly fewer than before Ishmael slaughtered Gedeliah, others attending his banquet and the pilgrims. (See Willis.)

1. Referring to themselves as a remnant, a small, little, pitiful group was an appeal for divine mercy. (Willis) 2. Willis observed Johanan well knew the LORD had been merciful to small, helpless groups in the past.




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Jeremiah 42:3, Pray that the Lord your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do.” (NET) I. Pray that the LORD your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do.”

A. Johanan asked Jeremiah to pray to God for an answer to the questions: (1) Where should we go? (2) What should we do? B. Was this a hypocritical request? Were they sincerely seeking divine direction? Were they merely wanting God to confirm what they had already decided to do?

1. Coffman wrote that we do not certainly know which it was. 2. Jeremiah must have regarded this as a sincere request or else he would not have so eagerly agreed to pray for the answer to their questions.

C. Those in Johanan’s entourage believed there was no safety for them in Jerusalem or Judea. Clarke stated they were determined to leave the land, but did not know the safest direction to take. They preferred to go to Egypt, but they wished to have God’s direction on which direction to take. D. Johanan, et. al. were sincere in their request, but were only asking for instructions as to which direction, route they should take and what they should do enroute. The Pulpit Commentary also states they had no idea God would tell them to stay in Judea.




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Jeremiah 42:4, The prophet Jeremiah answered them, “Agreed! I will indeed pray to the Lord your God as you have asked. I will tell you everything the Lord replies in response to you. I will not keep anything back from you.” (NET) I. The prophet Jeremiah answered them, “Agreed! I will indeed pray to the LORD your God as you have asked.

A. Evidently the people thought that Jeremiah’s prayers would be more successful than theirs because of Jeremiah’s prior communications with God, his righteousness and standing as a prophet. B. Jeremiah was pleased the people asked him to pray for guidance. He must have also been pleased with the promise that they would do whatever God required. C. Jeremiah immediately “Agreed!” to pray for divine direction for the people as requested.

1. Jeremiah made it clear that his God was their God also. (See Coffman.)

D. Clearly, at this point, Jeremiah did not understand he was to ask the LORD which direction out of Judea the people should take. He obviously understood Johanan wanted to know what God wanted them to do and that they swore to do it, no matter what.

II. I will tell you everything the LORD replies in response to you. I will not keep anything back from you.”




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A. Jeremiah promised to tell them everything the LORD said, the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. B. This is the way Jeremiah had always proclaimed God’s word!

1. Jeremiah was totally trustworthy, a true prophet who told it exactly as it was!

Jeremiah 42:5, They answered Jeremiah, “May the Lord be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not do just as the Lord sends you to tell us to do. (NET) I. They answered Jeremiah, “May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not do just as the LORD sends you to tell us to do.

A. They solemnly promised to do exactly what God said, but then refused to obey God when they heard what God told Jeremiah. B. Coffman understood this to be a sincere, solemn promise, a sworn oath.

1. When Jeremiah told them what the LORD said they refused to obey. 2. For this disobedience and failure to do as they had sworn they would pay the price. 3. They were disobedient, faithless in regard to believing God would protect them and wise in their own eyes as they placed more confidence in their opinions than in God’s word.




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C. God was a true and faithful witness between them. If they broke their promise, Jehovah would witness against them by punishing them. (The Pulpit Commentary)

Jeremiah 42:6, We will obey what the Lord our God to whom we are sending you tells us to do. It does not matter whether we like what he tells us or not. We will obey what he tells us to do so that things will go well for us.” (NET) I. We will obey what the LORD our God to whom we are sending you tells us to do.

A. Johanan here speaks of Jehovah as “the Lord OUR God.” B. It was a serious mistake, sin to swear, promise to do God’s will and then fail to do as promised.

1. Be assured reneging on our promises to God still is a serious sin!

II. It does not matter whether we like what he tells us or not.

A. Johanan’s people made a total commitment to doing what God told them to do, but utterly failed to do what they had promised once God revealed his will to them.

1. Like so many today, Johanan was long on saying and short on doing.

III. We will obey what he tells us to do so that things will go well with us.”




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A. They rightly understood that having things go well with them was contingent on their doing what God commanded them to do.

Jeremiah 42:7, Ten days later the Lord spoke to Jeremiah. (NET) I. Ten days later the LORD spoke to Jeremiah.

A. The LORD does not always answer immediately. Here the answer came ten (10) days later.

1. We must learn to patiently wait for the LORD. 2. Ezekiel 3:16, At the end of seven days the word of the Lord came to me: (NET)

B. Coffman wrote, “The ten (10) day delay was disciplinary, giving the people time themselves to pray and await the arrival of God’s word. Instead of that, it means that the people rushed forward their preparations for going into Egypt; for, as events proved, they were determined to do their own will in that matter, not the will of God.”

Jeremiah 42:8, So Jeremiah summoned Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers who were with him and all the people of every class. (NET) I. So Jeremiah summoned Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers who were with him and all the people of every class.

A. Having heard the word of the LORD, Jeremiah summoned the people and their leaders.




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Jeremiah 42:9, Then Jeremiah said to them, “You sent me to the Lord God of Israel to make your request known to him. Here is what he says to you: (NET) I. Then Jeremiah said to them, “You sent me to the LORD God of Israel to make your request known to him: . . .

A. Jeremiah told Johanan and those with him that they wanted to know what God would have them do.

1. Jeremiah then announced that God had answered his prayer. 2. Jeremiah told them to listen up and he would tell them what God had said.

Jeremiah 42:10, ‘If you will just stay in this land, I will build you up. I will not tear you down. I will firmly plant you. I will not uproot you. For I am filled with sorrow because of the disaster that I have brought on you. (NET) I. ‘If you will just stay in this land, I will build you up. I will not tear you down. I will firmly plant you.* I will not uproot you.

A. *NET Footnote: Or I will establish you.

1. Jeremiah 24:6, I will look after their welfare and will restore them to this land. There I will build them up and will not tear them down. I will plant them firmly in the land and will not uproot them. (NET)




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B. Stay in the Promised Land and the LORD will protect and bless you.

1. Jeremiah 1:10, 8, 19, Know for certain that I hereby give you the authority to announce to nations and kingdoms that they will be uprooted and torn down, destroyed and demolished, rebuilt and firmly planted.” Do not be afraid of those to whom I send you, for I will be with you to protect you,” says the Lord. They will attack you but they will not be able to overcome you, for I will be with you to rescue you,” says the Lord. (NET) 2. Jeremiah 24:6, I will look after their welfare and will restore them to this land. There I will build them up and will not tear them down. I will plant them firmly in the land and will not uproot them. (NET)

C.Obey God and he would provide security and salvation. (See Coffman.)

II. For I am filled with sorrow because of the disaster that I have brought on you.

A. God expressed sorrow for the troubles these people had endured since the fall of Jerusalem.

1. Jeremiah 18:7-10, There are times, Jeremiah, when I threaten to uproot, tear down, and destroy a nation or kingdom. But if that nation I threatened stops doing wrong, I will cancel the destruction I intended to do to




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it. And there are times when I promise to build up and establish a nation or kingdom. But if that nation does what displeases me and does not obey me, then I will cancel the good I promised to do to it. (NET) 2. 1 Samuel 15:29, The Preeminent One of Israel does not go back on his word or change his mind, for he is not a human being who changes his mind.” (NET) 3. Psalm 18:25-26, You prove to be loyal to one who is faithful; you prove to be trustworthy to one who is innocent. You prove to be reliable to one who is blameless, but you prove to be deceptive to one who is perverse. (NET)

B. These sorrows had been brought on the people because of their sinful rebellion against God.

1. To rid themselves of these sorrows they needed to rededicate themselves to the LORD. 2. Those who were truly faithful to God would be blessed.

Jeremiah 42:11, Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon whom you now fear. Do not be afraid of him because I will be with you to save you and to rescue you from his power. I, the Lord, affirm it! (NET) I. Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon whom you now fear. Do not be afraid of him because I will be with you to save you and to rescue you from his power.




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A. Coffman quoted Thompson as writing, “In the year 582 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar did again return to Jerusalem and take more captives.”

1. Jeremiah 52:30, in Nebuchadnezzar’s twenty-third year, Nebuzaradan, the captain of the royal guard, carried into exile 745 Judeans. In all 4,600 people went into exile. (NET) 2. Had Johanan and his associates stayed in the land, God would have protected them from the Babylonians.

II. I, the LORD, affirm it!

A. God affirmed his protection of those who would faithfully serve him.

1. It is a fact, a done deal! 2. You can totally depend on what God says!

Jeremiah 42:12, I will have compassion on you so that he in turn will have mercy on you and allow you to return to your land.’ (NET) I. I will have compassion on you so that he in turn will have mercy on you and allow you to return to your land.’

A. God promised, if Johanan and those associated with him did as he commanded and returned, stayed in the land of Canaan, to protect them from the Babylonians.




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Jeremiah 42:13, “You must not disobey the Lord your God by saying, ‘We will not stay in this land.’ (NET) I. “You must not disobey the LORD your God by saying, ‘We will not stay in this land.’

A. Disobeying God carries with it severe penalties, which in this case are here enumerated by Jeremiah.

1. Johanan and those associated with them were warned against disobedience. (Coffman)

B. Johanan would have known that Jeremiah’s prophecies had been fulfilled one after another. Why would he have any doubt about what Jeremiah was saying now?

Jeremiah 42:14, You must not say, ‘No, we will not stay. Instead we will go and live in the land of Egypt where we will not face war, or hear the enemy’s trumpet calls, or starve for lack of food.’ (NET) I. You must not say, ‘No, we will not stay. Instead we will go and live in the land of Egypt where we will not face war, or hear the enemy’s trumpet calls, or starve for lack of food.’

A. The people thought everything would be perfect in Egypt, but they were sorely mistaken. (See Willis.)

1. God emphatically commanded them not to go down into Egypt. (Coffman)

Jeremiah 42:15, If you people who remain in Judah do that, then listen to what the Lord says. The Lord God of Israel who rules over all says, ‘If you are so determined to go to Egypt that you go and settle there, (NET)




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I. If you people who remain in Judah do that, then listen to what the LORD says.

A. What the people did determined what the LORD had to say and what he did to them. B. Jeremiah now tells the people and their leaders what will happen if they disobey God and go to Egypt.

1. Jeremiah 24:8, “I, the Lord, also solemnly assert: ‘King Zedekiah of Judah, his officials, and the people who remain in Jerusalem or who have gone to live in Egypt are like those bad figs. I consider them to be just like those bad figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten.

III. ‘If you are so determined to go to Egypt that you go and settle there, . . .

A. “God warned them against the self deception of a heart which asks for guidance when it has already made its decision.” (Coffman) B. Clarke wrote, “Every evil that you dreaded by staying in your own land shall come upon you in Egypt.”

Jeremiah 42:16, the wars you fear will catch up with you there in the land of Egypt. The starvation you are worried about will follow you there to Egypt. You will die there. (NET) I. the wars you fear will catch up with you there in the land of Egypt.*




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A. *NET Footnote: Or will follow you right into Egypt; or will dog your steps all the way to Egypt. B. The troubles Johanan and his party sought to avoid would follow them to Egypt.

1. Jeremiah 15:2, If they ask you, ‘Where should we go?’ tell them the Lord says this: “Those who are destined to die of disease will go to death by disease. Those who are destined to die in war will go to death in war. Those who are destined to die of starvation will go to death by starvation. Those who are destined to go into exile will go into exile.” (NET) 2. Jeremiah 21:7, 9, Then I, the Lord, promise that I will hand over King Zedekiah of Judah, his officials, and any of the people who survive the war, starvation, and disease. I will hand them over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and to their enemies who want to kill them. He will slaughter them with the sword. He will not show them any mercy, compassion, or pity.’ Those who stay in this city will die in battle or of starvation or disease. Those who leave the city and surrender to the Babylonians who are besieging it will live. They will escape with their lives. (NET) 3. Jeremiah 24:9-10, I will bring such disaster on them that all the kingdoms of the earth will be horrified. I will make them an object of




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reproach, a proverbial example of disaster. I will make them an object of ridicule, an example to be used in curses. That is how they will be remembered wherever I banish them. I will bring war, starvation, and disease on them until they are completely destroyed from the land I gave them and their ancestors.’” (NET) 4. Jeremiah 38:2, “The Lord says, ‘Those who stay in this city will die in battle or of starvation or disease. Those who leave the city and surrender to the Babylonians will live. They will escape with their lives.’” (NET) 5. Jeremiah 25:9, 18, So I, the Lord, affirm that I will send for all the peoples of the north and my servant, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants and all the nations that surround it. I will utterly destroy this land, its inhabi-tants, and all the nations that surround it and make them everlasting ruins. I will make them objects of horror and hissing scorn. I made Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, its kings and its officials drink it. I did it so Judah would become a ruin. I did it so Judah, its kings, and its officials would become an object of horror and of hissing scorn, an example used in curses. Such is already becoming the case! (NET) 6. Jeremiah 29:18, I will chase after them with war, starvation, and disease. I will make all




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the kingdoms of the earth horrified at what happens to them. I will make them examples of those who are cursed, objects of horror, hissing scorn, and ridicule among all the nations where I exile them. (NET) 7. Jeremiah 43:8-13 At Tahpanhes the Lord spoke to Jeremiah. “Take some large stones and bury them in the mortar of the clay pavement at the entrance of Pharaoh’s residence here in Tahpanhes. Do it while the people of Judah present there are watching. Then tell them, ‘The Lord God of Israel who rules over all says, “I will bring my servant King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I will set his throne over these stones which I have buried. He will pitch his royal tent over them. He will come and attack Egypt. Those who are destined to die of disease will die of disease. Those who are destined to be carried off into exile will be carried off into exile. Those who are destined to die in war will die in war. He will set fire to the temples of the gods of Egypt. He will burn their gods or carry them off as captives. He will pick Egypt clean like a shepherd picks the lice from his clothing. He will leave there unharmed. He will demolish the sacred pillars in the temple of the sun in Egypt and will burn down the temples of the gods of Egypt.”’” (NET)

II. The starvation you are worried about will follow you there to Egypt.




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A. Running away from God’s commands and their homeland would most certainly not free themselves of their troubles and fears such as starvation which would follow them even to Egypt.

III. You will die there.

A. They went to Egypt against God’s will. They would never leave Egypt, but would die there. B. Wanton disobedience to God leads to death.

Jeremiah 42:17, All the people who are determined to go and settle in Egypt will die from war, starvation, or disease. No one will survive or escape the disaster I will bring on them.’ (NET) I. All the people who are determined to go and settle in Egypt will die from war, starvation, or disease.

A. War, starvation and disease (pestilence) would follow them to Egypt and to the grave. . . all because of their lack of faith and disobedience of God’s commands. B. Johanan did not keep his word, but God definitely kept his!

II. No one will survive or escape the disaster I will bring on them.

A. Every single person who went into Egypt against God’s will died there.

B. Even Jeremiah, who was forced to go to Egypt against his will, died there.




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Jeremiah 42:18, For the Lord God of Israel who rules over all says, ‘If you go to Egypt, I will pour out my wrath on you just as I poured out my anger and wrath on the citizens of Jerusalem. You will become an object of horror and ridicule, an example of those who have been cursed and that people use in pronouncing a curse. You will never see this place again.’ (NET) I. For the LORD God of Israel who rules over all says, . . .

A. Jeremiah regarded Jehovah as the LORD God of Israel. B. Jeremiah also regarded Jehovah as ruler over all and everything.

1. Jehovah’s power in Egypt, for example, was just as strong as it was in Canaan, as Moses demonstrated. 2. Johanan and his company could not escape the rule of the LORD.

II. ‘If you go to Egypt, I will pour out my wrath on you just as I poured out my anger and wrath on the citizens of Jerusalem.

A. Johanan and his associates could not escape God’s wrath for their disobedience by going to Egypt. B. God could and would punish sin in Egypt the same as he did in Jerusalem.

III. You will become an object of horror and ridicule, an example of those who have been cursed and of a people referenced in pronouncing a curse.




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A. Their sins would lead to their becoming objects of disgust, horror and ridicule.

1. They would be regarded as a cursed people. 2. They would be used in profane utterances as an expletive and referenced in curses they pronounce on others.

B. For disobeying God they would become a despised people, a hiss and a by-word.

IV. You will never see this place again.’*

A. *“NET Footnote: Referring to the land of Judah. B. They had, because of lack of faith and trust in God, forsaken the Promised Land.

1. God made it clear: If you leave Palestine you will not live to ever see it again. 2. If you think so little of your homeland that you forsake it, you will never again return to see it, not even for a short visit.

Jeremiah 42:19, “The Lord has told you people who remain in Judah, ‘Do not go to Egypt.’ Be very sure of this: I warn you here and now. (NET) I. “The LORD has told you people who remain in Judah, . . .




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NOTE: “. . . THE last four verses of the chapter constitute an epilogue in which Jeremiah once more pleads with the people to do God’s will.” (Coffman)

A. God promised those people, Johanan and those with him, that if they remained in Judea, the LORD would bless them.

II. ‘Do not go to Egypt.’

A. “Go to Egypt, and you will incur the wrath of God; and the last one of you that go shall die there by the sword, the famine, or the pestilence.” (Coffman) B. Clarke wrote that God did not want the people to go to Egypt because they would be influenced to worship and serve the idols of that culture. C. Certainly other reasons were also of significance in this command; for example, . . . they were . . .

1. to trust God to protect them from the Babylonians. 2. not to forsake the land God had given them.

III. Be very sure of this: I warn you here and now.

A. This is ominous! Be very sure of this. I warn you here and now. B. Do these words cause shivers to run up and down your spine? They certainly do mine.

Jeremiah 42:20, You are making a fatal mistake. For you sent me to the Lord your God and asked me, ‘Pray




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to the Lord our God for us. Tell us what the Lord our God says and we will do it.’ (NET) I. You are making a fatal mistake.

A. The fatal, deadly mistake was not in praying to God, but in failing to do what they had promised to do, failure to obey God. B. This failure to obey the LORD aroused his anger toward Johanan, his military forces, and the refugees he rescued from Ishmael.

II. For you sent me to the LORD your God and asked me, ‘Pray to the LORD our God for us. Tell us what the LORD, our God says and we will do it.’

A. However, when they heard what God said, they refused to obey the LORD.

1. They had gone astray from the right path. (The Pulpit Commentary)

B. They dissembled; that is, tried to hide under a false appearance, conceal intentions under false pretenses. C. Clarke wrote, “What a most miserable and incorrigible people! Ingratitude, hypocrisy, rebellion, and cruelty seem to have been enthroned in their hearts!”

Jeremiah 42:21, This day I have told you what he said. But you do not want to obey the Lord by doing what he sent me to tell you. (NET)




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I. This day I have told you what he said.

A. You now know what God said, but you refuse to obey his commands! B. Jeremiah’s duty and the duty of ministers of the gospel today remain the same.

1. They are to proclaim God’s word in season and out of season. 2. Jeremiah had told them what God said! Now it was up to Johanan and his associates to obey or disobey.

II. But you do not want to obey the LORD by doing what he sent me to tell you.

A. Johanan made a solemn pledge to God that they would do whatever God said, but the answer God gave was not what they wanted to hear. Therefore, they refused to obey the LORD and proceeded in their own self-willed ways.

1. In this regard, the world hasn’t changed any through the ages.

B. Johanan promised to do what God said in response to Jeremiah’s prayer, but even before God had answered, Johanan had already decided what he was going to do. (See Coffman.)

1. Jeremiah knew of these intentions and, consequently, answered as he did.




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a. Deuteronomy 31:27, 29, for I know about your rebellion and stubbornness. Indeed, even while I have been living among you to this very day, you have rebelled against the Lord; you will be even more rebellious after my death! For I know that after I die you will totally corrupt yourselves and turn away from the path I have commanded you to walk. Disaster will confront you in the days to come because you will act wickedly before the Lord, inciting him to anger because of your actions.” (NET)

2. Also, God knew the hearts of men! (See Coffman.)

Jeremiah 42:22, So now be very sure of this: You will die from war, starvation, or disease in the place where you want to go and live.” (NET) I. So now be very sure of this: . . .

A. Let there be no doubt about the results of your action. B. Disobedience of God’s will carries certain and sure consequences!

II. You will die from war, starvation, or disease in the place where you want to go and live.”

A. The Israelites were slaves in Egypt many years, endured forty (40) years in the wilderness, fought for every foot of the Promised Land, forfeited it to the Babylonians and Assyrians by living sinfully, and now these people are bound and




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determined to return to Egypt where war, starvation, and disease awaited them. B. The very things that make you afraid to remain in Judah shall befall you in Egypt.” (Coffman) C. Clarke wrote, “They did not intend to obey; but as a matter of curiosity they would inquire to hear what the prophet might say; and if according to their own inclination, they would obey.”

1. Disobedience produces punishments, repercussions! 2. Obedience brings God’s blessings.

Conclusion: I. When we are confused and ask God to “tell us the way in which we should walk and the thing we should do,” we had better obey when we learn what the will of the LORD is. (See Smith.) II. Do not lie to God, promising him you will obey him and then refuse, fail to obey what he says.

A. Johanan and his associates learned the hard way that such a course of action leads to disaster.

Questions

On




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Jeremiah 42:1-22

1. How did Coffman outline Jeremiah 42? ________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2. Who went to the prophet Jeremiah? ______________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 3. Who were Johanan and Jezaniah? ________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 4. What classes of people were with Johanan and Jezaniah? _____ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 5. When did Jeremiah leave Mizpah? Under what conditions did he leave Mizpah? How and where did he become a member of Johanan’s refugee group? Where was he when Johanan, et. al. asked him to pray on their behalf? _________________________




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______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 6. Why did Johanan refer to those with him as “few”? They were “few” in comparison to what other people? ___________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 7. For what did Johanan ask Jeremiah to pray? _______________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 8. Was Johanan sincere in making this request? Give reasons for your answer. ___________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 9. What was Jeremiah’s attitude regarding praying as Johanan requested? ____________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________




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____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 10. Had Johanan already decided to leave Palestine? If so, for what was he really wanting Jeremiah to pray? ________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 11. Why did the people want Jeremiah to pray for them? Are some people’s prayers more effective than others? _________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 12. Jeremiah promised as he always had to “tell you ___________ the _____________ ________________ in ___________________ to you. I will not ____________________ __________________ from you.” 13. What response did the people give Jeremiah in verses 5-7? Were they sincere in making these promises? Did they fully intend to comply with God’s directives? __________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________




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14. What do people have to do to ensure that things will go well with them? ____________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 15. How many days passed between the time Jeremiah prayed and the time God answered his prayer? Is this unusual? ____________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 16. What did God say in answer to Jeremiah’s prayer? (See verse 10.) Did this answer please the people? Was this answer a surprise to Johanan? _____________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 17. What disaster had God brought on these people? Why had God brought this disaster on the people? Why was God filled with sorrows? ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________




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18. What promises did God make the people in verse 11? When did Nebuchadnezzar return to Judea? What happened when he returned? _____________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 19. What did the LORD affirm? What was the significance of this affirmation? ___________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 20. What specific instructions did God give the people in verses 13 and 14? _______________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 21. What would happen to Johanan and the people with him if they disobeyed God’s commands as given in verses 13-14? (See verses 15-17.) _______________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________




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22. In what ways was the LORD the God of Israel more than the God of other nations? What was the point in telling these people that God rules over all? __________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 23. Should they go to Egypt, the people would become an object of horror and ridicule, an example of those who have been cursed and that people use in pronouncing a curse. Explain exactly what this means. _______________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 24. If you leave ___________________ you will not ___________ to ______________________ it again. If you think so little of your ______________________ that you ____________________ it, you will __________________ _____________ ____________ to __________________ it, not even for a ___________________ ________________________. 25. The last __________________ ___________________ of the ___________________ constitute an _______________________ in which ______________ once more _____________________ with the _____________________ to do ___________________’s ___________________. 26. Why did God not want these people to go to Egypt? ________ ______________________________________________________




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________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 27. God told the people, ___________________ ______________ _________________ to ___________________.’ Be very sure of this: ____________________ ______________ you ___________ and ________________. You are making a __________________ _____________________. 28. What effect did these solemn warnings have on the people? What effect do God’s solemn warnings have on you? _________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 29. Johanan and those associated with him had sworn that they would do whatever God commanded, but then refused to obey when God commanded them to do what they didn’t want to do. How did Clarke describe their behavior? ____________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 30. ___________________ made a _________________________ ____________________ to _______________________ that they would do whatever ___________________ said, but the _____________________ __________________ gave was not what _______________ _______________ to ________________




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the ______________ and _____________ in their _____________ _______________-________________ _____________________. 31. Jeremiah concluded, “So now be ______________ ____________________ of this: _______________________ will _______________ from _______________, _________________, or ___________________ in the _______________________ where you want to _______________ and ___________________. 32. The very things that made them ________________to remain in ______________ would befall them in___________________. (See Coffman.) 33. Did Johanan ever really intend to obey God fully? What did Clarke say about this? ___________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 34. When we are __________________ and _________________ ______________ to “tell us the __________________________ in which we should ____________________ and the thing we should do,” we had _____________________ __________________ when we __________________ what the ____________________ of the ____________________ is. (See Smith.) 35. Do not ___________________ to _____________________, _____________________ him you will _____________________ him and then ____________________, _____________________ to __________________ what he says. _____________________ and his associates ____________________ the _______________




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____________________ that such a _______________________ of _______________ _______________ to __________________.



the survivors ask the lord for advice but refuse to follow...

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