Jeremiah 40:13-16 (ESV)
Now Johanan the son of Kareah and all the leaders of the forces in the open country came to Gedaliah at Mizpah and said to him, “Do you know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam would not believe them. Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke secretly to Gedaliah at Mizpah, “Please let me go and strike down Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no one will know it. Why should he take your life, so that all the Judeans who are gathered about you would be scattered, and the remnant of Judah would perish?” But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah, “You shall not do this thing, for you are speaking falsely of Ishmael.”
It is important to understand the timing of the above narrative. Babylon has just captured Jerusalem. Jeremiah was given the choice to stay in Jerusalem or go to Babylon or go wherever he wanted. He chose to stay in Jerusalem. The King of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, puts Gedaliah in charge of all those who are left in Jerusalem.
However, this still created a leadership vacuum. Ishmael, someone part of the past royal family, has his own mind of who should be in charge. It was him. In the above passage Gedaliah was warned about Ishmael. But he does not listen. In the next chapter he is killed by Ishmael. Later, Ismael will also be killed by someone avenging Gedaliah’s death.
This is the life post the Babylonian conquest. Israel has gone from being one of the most powerful nations in the world to a remnant of in-fighters and wannabe leaders. Disobedience to God’s word will do this. But standing in stark contrast to all this is the prophet Jeremiah. He is given permission to live where he wants and is cared for, even by the enemy. When we walk with God we are protected and cared for. God watches over those who obey Him! Note:
Jeremiah 40:2-6 (ESV)
The captain of the guard took Jeremiah and said to him, “The LORD your God pronounced this disaster against this place. The LORD has brought it about, and has done as he said. Because you sinned against the LORD and did not obey his voice, this thing has come upon you. Now, behold, I release you today from the chains on your hands. If it seems good to you to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will look after you well, but if it seems wrong to you to come with me to Babylon, do not come. See, the whole land is before you; go wherever you think it good and right to go. If you remain, then return to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon appointed governor of the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people. Or go wherever you think it right to go.” So the captain of the guard gave him an allowance of food and a present, and let him go. Then Jeremiah went to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, at Mizpah, and lived with him among the people who were left in the land.
No comments:
Post a Comment