Jeremiah 42 - 12.3.25

Scripture

Jeremiah 42:5-6

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.”

Observation

Babylon had seized Jerusalem, razed the city, and deported thousands. The small remnant that was left asked Jeremiah the prophet to pray to God for direction, that God would tell them where to go and what to do. They promised to obey God’s directions whether they liked them or not. (Spoiler alert – they did not like the direction they received or follow it.)

Application

Many times when we come to God in prayer, we come with preconceived expectations. We are not asking for God’s will to be done, we are asking Him to do what we want Him to do. And when His answers are different than we expected, we are disappointed and lose hope. Or we become angry and blame God for not working in the way we want Him to. He tells us His ways are not our ways. Will we trust Him, that He is in control and has a purpose and a plan?

Prayer

God, this is a lesson I need to learn new every day. Help me to continue to trust You at all times, in all situations. You love me more than I can imagine. You have a plan for my life. Help me to place my life in Your hands.

- Debbie Dunn