July 18

Jeremiah 42
A friend of mine recently left town. He ran away from his problems. It is a life-long pattern that he has had. He is 54, so the pattern is pretty ingrained. He just feels that a change of location is the answer to the problems. The problem with running is that eventually we encounter a similar problem. So we end up running again.
“Is there any Word from the Lord?” Zedekiah is long deported to Babylon (maybe as much as 5 years), but those remaining in Jerusalem still follow his habit of asking but not obeying. After Gedaliah’s unfortunate demise, and Johanan’s rescue of the people, he represents them in seeking instruction about what to do. The Lord graciously gives them assurance about staying, but He also sees through the ruse of their asking. The Lord calls them hypocrites. They asked but not with a view to obedience. Normally when we ask without a view to obedience, the Lord does not answer at all. The classic New Testament passage on the subject is James 1:5-7. James tells us to ask for wisdom in faith. Faith is not believing God will answer, but faith is trusting in such a way that when the answer comes we obey. He says that one who doubts is double minded. In other words, he weighs God’s answer against human wisdom and the does the one which seem most pleasing. What a perfect description of Joahanan and his people!
So where is the glory of the Lord Jesus in all of this? Even when we waffle in our obedience He offers mercy! Look at verse 11 & 12:
Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom you are afraid; do not be afraid of him,’ says the LORD, ‘for I am with you, to save you and deliver you from his hand. And I will show you mercy, that he may have mercy on you and cause you to return to your own land.’
It is so easy to run from our problems. If we have to run, it ought to be toward the mercy of the Lord, not away from it! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john