Fri.’s Devo - God’s Word to the Remnant in Egypt

Read: Jeremiah 42:1-44:23; 2 Timothy 2:1-21; Psalms 92:1-93:5; Proverbs 26:3-5 Johanan and Jezaniah were military leaders who had lead the people into other nations to flee the Babylonians. They had come back to Judah when they learned the Gedaliah had been made governor. Now that Gedaliah had been killed and there was no leader they came to Jeremiah to ask God what they should do next. They promised that they would do whatever He said. After 10 days, God did speak to Jeremiah and told him to tell them not to go to Egypt because they would encounter famine, disease and war. If they stayed in Judah everything would go well for them. Johanan and the other military officers refused to listen, even though they had promised to. They packed up everyone, including Jeremiah and went to Egypt. When they came to the city of Tahpanhes God told Jeremiah to take some large rocks and bury them under the pavement stones at the entrance of Pharaoh’s palace. Jeremiah told the people that God was going to bring the army of Nebuchadnezzar to Egypt and he would set his throne over these stones that he had hidden. The war and famine that they fled would come to them. Jeremiah spoke to the Judaens that were living in the large cities of Egypt and said that God was going to judge them for worshipping the gods of Egypt. They would be killed by war, famine and disease because they refused to repent. The women argued that all this was happening because they had stopped worshipping the gods of Egypt. Jeremiah responded that it was because they had worshipped the gods of Egypt. God’s judgments are not immediate. He waited a long time to punish them because he is so merciful. They had provoked him for years and years and he could no longer bear it. Paul encouraged Timothy to pass down to his people the things he had learned from Paul. He explained that he needed to be like a soldier and obey his officer. Like an athlete he would not win the prize unless he followed the rules. And, like a farmer, he would reap the fruits of his hard work. These are the tenets of the Kingdom: follow God, obey his Word and reap the rewards. What we do on earth determines our state in eternity. He gave us secrets in how to be used for God’s special work. Those who keep themselves pure will be used in special work and those who aren’t concerned about their walk will only be used for everyday stuff. Lord, may we not be stubborn in our walk but stay separate from the world’s enticements by washing our soul with the water of the Word.