SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 42
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with everything the LORD your God sends you to tell us. Whether it is favorable or unfavorable, we will obey the LORD our God, to whom we are sending you, so that it will go well with us, for we will obey the LORD our God.” [Jeremiah 42:5-6]
These army officials sound very sincere when they say that they will do whatever God tells them to do – whether it is favorable or unfavorable.
But Jeremiah is suspicious, maybe he senses that they are trying to impress God with their devotion, but not really that eager to obey.
What they say is good – since God is God, His way is the best and right way; but since we are human, we tend to prefer our own way.
How many of us still today like God and Jesus as long as what they say or do fits with our preferences?
On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” [John 6:60] From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. [John 6:66-68]
It seems Jesus faced the same thing – people like Him and followed Him when He was shaming the religious leaders, judging the Romans, healing the sick and feeding the hungry – but when His teaching got hard, they ditched Him.
Peter’s answer to Jesus here is the reason why we should all listen to, and follow Jesus (and God): because what they say and do represents the way to life and blessing!
I suspect that most Christians agree with this eagerly, and would even say like the army officials, whether it is favorable or unfavorable, we will obey the LORD our God.
But it is important and humbling to remember that even the twelve, who stuck with Jesus longer than anyone else, eventually ran away when it got too hard.
In other words, I am not judging any of these people for their failure to listen or obey – I suspect I would have my breaking point too.
But at this moment, while I am still able, I need to reinforce in my mind Peter’s response – to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life – so that when times of testing come and I’m tended to run, I will realize what is at stake.
What God and Jesus say and do is always right and always good, but not always nice or easy.
I need to daily repeat the words of the army officials and the words of Peter, so that when God’s answer is ‘unfavorable’, I will not turn away.
Whether it is favorable or unfavorable, we will obey the LORD our God.
To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life!
PRAYER:
Lord, I do not pretend that I am stronger than these army officials, or Peter. I know how I have buckled under pressure in the past. May I stand firm today, and cling to Your words of life!
Stand firm.
I remember the words of Joshua – but as for me and my household, we will serve the living God.
In this passage, the officers are asking Joshua to pray so that the Lord God will tell them where they should go and what they should do. Bur all too often we know better than God and do what our voice tells us. Remember Jonah? All too often when the going gets rough, we go our own way. We know better than God.
Whose voice am I listening to? This is the way. Walk in it! Lord give me the ears that I hear You speak the words – this is the way for Life everlasting. Walk in it.
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
Refrain
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.
Refrain
But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
Refrain
Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.
Refrain