SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 41
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
While they were eating together there, Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the ten men who were with him got up and struck down Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, with the sword, killing the one whom the king of Babylon had appointed as governor over the land. Ishmael also killed all the men of Judah who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah, as well as the Babylonian soldiers who were there. [Jeremiah 41:1-3]
Gedaliah is appointed by the king of Babylon, but Ishmael, who is of royal blood, seeks to take back his family dynasty.
What strikes me is the trust of Gedaliah and the cruel betrayal of Ishmael.
Here they are eating together – a symbol of covenant loyalty.
And it is not the honour of God or Israel that motivates him, for he plans to join the Ammonites – this is pure, selfish, heartless betrayal!

While they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.” They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely not I, Lord?” Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” [Matthew 26:20-24]
Betrayed by a friend, while they are eating together.
Jesus recognizes that this betrayal serves a greater purpose, but that does not let Judas off the hook.
Jesus is not just condemning Judas for revenge, for He still loves Him.
The fact that Jesus knows what is about to happen, and still stretches out His hand to share a bowl with His betrayer, reveals His love.
By this point, Judas’ was blind with self-delusion, the scheme in his mind kept him from seeing the folly of his ways.
Jesus even warns him them one day he will regret it, he will even despair of his life because of it – and that is what happens [Matthew 27:1-5]
Ishmael escapes, but does he end up filled with regret and despair too?

The sin of betrayal is a bitter pill, poisonous to the one that swallows it.
To pretend love, to take advantage of trust, to express loyalty through a shared meal, and then to turn against that person – it is the height of depravity.
Many people have done it through the ages, and all of them have regretted it eventually.
I think of the wife/mother who had an affair, left her husband and children and married someone else – only to have her new husband leave her and her children penniless years later, feeling betrayed
In her despair, did she ever think that this is what she herself had done to her first husband and children?
Jesus says, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword” [Matthew 26:52].
This is also true for every other sin: those who deceive are also deceived; those who betray are also betrayed; those who cheat are also cheated!
Such behaviour inevitably leads to this: But woe to that man… It would be better for him if he had not been born.

PRAYER:
Lord, help me not to live by the sword (or betrayal or deception or greed or lust) but by the fruit of the Spirit. May my life share love, joy, peace, etc., and may I enjoy them myself as well.