O: Babylon had conquered Judah and carried off most of the people into exile. They appointed Gedaliah as governor of Judah, but Ishmael ben Nathaniah assassinated Gedaliah.
Johanan ben Kareah and other people who didn't have anything to do with the assassination feared Babylon retribution, and asked the prophet Jeremiah to ask God what they should do, promising “May Yahweh your God be a faithful witness against us if we refuse to obey whatever he tells us to do! Whether we like it or not, we will obey Yahweh our God to whom we are sending you with our plea. For if we obey him, everything will turn out well for us.” (Jeremiah 42:5-6)
God told them to stay in Judah, for He would make the king of Babylon kind to them. God also warned them not to go to Egypt, because if they did, they would be caught up in Babylon's invasion of Egypt.
However, when Jeremiah had finished giving this message from Yahweh their God to all the people, Azariah ben Hoshaiah and Johanan ben Kareah and all the other proud men said to Jeremiah, “You lie! Yahweh our God hasn’t forbidden us to go to Egypt! Baruch ben Neriah has convinced you to say this, because he wants us to stay here and be killed by the Babylonians or be carried off into exile.” So Johanan and the other guerrilla leaders and all the people refused to obey Yahweh’s command to stay in Judah. (Jeremiah 43:1-4)
As a result, they ended up suffering in the war when Babylon invaded Egypt.
A: James 1:5 says, “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.”
And so, indeed, we ask... but are we willing to listen when He tells us, through His Word, counsel of Godly believers, etc.?
My family is facing such a situation now... the prevailing counsel is going in one direction, but we seem to be resisting it.
P: Father, may we be obedient to Your guidance. In Jesus' name, amen.
Note: this is using the SOAP method. For more information, see this page (not written by me.)
