THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE IS IN THE CENTER OF GOD’S WILL FOR YOU
SCRIPTURE:
“Remnant of Judah, the Lord has told you, ‘Do not go to Egypt.’ Be sure of this: I warn you today 20 that you made a fatal mistake when you sent me to the Lord your God and said, ‘Pray to the Lord our God for us; tell us everything he says and we will do it.’ 21 I have told you today, but you still have not obeyed the Lord your God in all he sent me to tell you. 22 So now, be sure of this: You will die by the sword, famine, and plague in the place where you want to go to settle.” (Jeremiah 42:10—22)
OBSERVATION:
Jeremiah was summoned by the remnant of Judah, to seek the Lord on their behalf of what they should do. In fact, this is what they said to Jeremiah; “Please hear our petition and pray to the Lord your God for this entire remnant. For as you now see, though we were once many, now only a few are left. Pray that the Lord your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do.”
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. 6 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.”
It is interesting that they said to Jeremiah to seek the “LORD YOUR GOD” on their behalf. They didn’t address the Lord as their God, but as Jeremiah’s God. This is important to notice, because if the Lord is NOT my God, why should I seek his help. So, the remanent were aware of the power of God to HELP them, but they did not referred to him as their God.
They also said, they will do exactly what Jeremiah’s God says whether it is favorable or unfavorable. They will do exactly what Jeremiah’s God says so that it will go well with them. Jeremiah came back after seeking the Lord and gave them God’s word. Jeremiah said, God said, DO NOT GO TO EGYPT. Be sure of this; I WARN YOU TODAY, that you made a FATAL MISTAKE when you sent me to the LORD YOUR GOD.
Do not go to Egypt, God warned. God’s grace always moves to cover us before we make a fatal mistake with our decisions and the way tend to lean to our desires. God’s warning is his grace in action. He gives a warning and then spell out the consequences of what we will face when we choose to ignore his will.
It is not a good thing to seek the Lord for what we should do when we have already decided to do whatever we have been entertaining in our mind. The remnants were already warned of the consequences; however, they ignored the will of God. They have not obeyed God as they originally said. I have heard many times when God said, DO NOT GO HERE, OR THERE. DO NOT DO THIS OR THAT. I have my fare share of ignoring CLEAR word of the Lord, and I have also paid for the consequences of my arrogance and learn in a hard way.
APPLICATION:
I am reminded today that the safest place to be is in the WILL OF GOD. Whether I like it or not, it is always safe to heed to clear word of the Lord and trust him. So many times, people hate God for calamities and difficulties they faced in life because they ignore God’s word and are arrogant. I want to always make a choice to be always in the WILL OF GOD. I want to do this daily and be obedient to God’s warning or direction.
PRAYER:
Jesus, teach me how to be obedient to the will of the Father as you do. I want to be obedient and pay attention to the things that you have been warning me about and all that you are guiding me to do. Help me to walk in your will daily. Lead me away from arrogance and pride. Lead me away from lying and my inability to be obedience to you. Forgive me for disobedience. I pray all these in your name. Amen!