3/8/13
S: Jeremiah 42-43 After Ishmael ben Nethaniah murdered Governor Gedaliah, Johanan ben Kareah and the other guerrilla leaders asked Jeremiah to ask God to show them what to do and where to go, promising that they would obey the word of the Lord. However, when Jeremiah told them the Lord wanted them to stay in Israel and not flee to Egypt, Azariah ben Hoshaiah and Johanan ben Kareah refused to listen and claimed that Jeremiah lied. They decided to disobey God's word and go to Egypt instead, and even forced Jeremiah and Baruch to go with them. As a result, they would be caught up in the horror of Nebuchadnezzar's sacking of Egypt.
O: This is a repeat of last week's lesson: Why bother to seek God's Word if you won't follow it?
The difference here and there was that there, Zedekiah was a bad king who didn't follow God from the beginning, while Johanan ben Kareah seemed like he was trying to follow God at first.
This is a lesson to us who follow God. Even believers can fall into this trap.
A: As it says in 1 Corinthians 10:11-13, "Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it."
P: Father, I am weak but You are strong. Jesus, keep me from all wrong. Keep me walking close to You. In Jesus' name, amen.
Note: this is using the SOAP method. For more information, see this page (not written by me.)
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