If you’re joining us in reading through Isaiah and Jeremiah today’s reading is Jeremiah 39-40 and the devotion is taken from 40:9-10. Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, took an oath to reassure them and their men. “Do not be afraid to serve the Babylonians,” he said. “Settle down in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you. I myself will stay at Mizpah to represent you before the Babylonians who come to us, but you are to harvest the wine, summer fruit and olive oil, and put them in your storage jars, and live in the towns you have taken over.” After the final defeat of Jerusalem in 586 BC Gedaliah (the son of the man who saved Jeremiah) was made ruler over the remaining Jews. Since this was done by Nebuchadnezzar, his rule unless he openly rebelled, would be one of peace because it was supported by the conquerors. However if anything was to happen to him the result would be total destruction of what remained in Judah. This was a time of incredible political intrigue. Ishmael (another Jewish general) plotted against Gedaliah because Gedaliah was aligned with Babylon. Jeremiah’s prophecies seem to indicate that he felt that it was God’s will Gedaliah be the governmental structure for the rest of Israel. However, Ishmael felt that they should align themselves with Egypt and conquer the Babylonians. Gedaliah clearly stated to the remaining Jews that if they did not rebel against Nebuchadnezzar they would be able to remain in their land and live a life of peace. When Ishmael killed Gedaliah that chance for peace ended and Nebuchadnezzar returned to totally decimate the land. When we fail to follow God’s known path we end up in trouble. Just like Judah we like to take things in your own hands because we like to be in control. But our being in control generally ends up being a disaster, just like what happened after Gedaliah was assassinated. If you’re going to ask God for guidance that accept that guidance otherwise you will face certain disaster.
Posted on: Wed, 18 Jun 2014 10:00:00 +0000
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