Jeremiah 42

Message: Fear God, not men. Don't look at your surroundings and what may befall you. Trust God and His Word and what he says.

Time: The remnant left in Judah after Gedeliah died.

What the Lord is Saying: Johanana and the other commanders went to Jeremiah to ask him to pray and ask the Lord where they should go. Jeremiah told them that they he would pray, but they also need to be ready to hear what the Lord has to say. And they responded that they would do whatever. They said, "Whether it is good or bad, we will obey the voice of the Lord our God to whom we are sending you." The bottom line is that is it is well for them to obey the Lord.

After 10 days, Jeremiah had an answer.

Stay in this land and no harm will come your way. Do not fear Nebuchadnezzar and the Lord will grant you mercy and let you remain in the land. However, they responded by going to Egypt, going their own way. They really did not want to listen to the Lord, they only wanted to listen to what they wanted to hear.

Problem/Promise: If you leave and go to Egypt, bad things will befall you.

• The sword you fear will overtake you. 
• The famine that you are afraid of will follow you. 
• And you will die there. 
• Disaster will come upon you. 
• God's wrath will be poured out on you. 
• You shall become an execration, a horror, a curse, and a taunt. 

God keeps His word. Always. People don't. They are more concerned about what they see in front of their eyes.