Day 237, August 25 Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today’s Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): Lamentations 4-5; 2Kings 25:22-26; Jeremiah 40-42
Forfeiting Grace
A woman, looking out the window of an airplane (pictured above), wonders if she made the right decision. She turned down the proposal of her boyfriend and forfeited the chance to settle down into a good marriage. Why? Someone else might come by who could be a little more appealing.
A man (not pictured) gives up a chance for a good stable job because it is not a dream job, even though there are no better prospects on the horizon.
What is the danger of forfeiting? The answer is, we might lose out on an opportunity. But what do we do when we are not sure of the right course?
A Costly Mistake
In today’s Bible reading, Babylon has destroyed the nation of Judah. Under a two-year siege, the people suffered famine and starvation. Their enemies broke down and burned Jerusalem’s walls, killed or scattered its residents, and looted its temple, palace, and every other prominent building.
The remnant of Israel mourned their losses. Jeremiah, the prophet, writes about them in graphic detail in the book of Lamentations. The Israelites forfeited the grace that was once theirs.
Whether the remnants of the people of Judah were wealthy, weak, or even religious, they suffered significant loss of life, property, all their dignity, and their nation. They are still famished and have to scrounge around for food and drink. They are humiliated. It was a costly mistake.
What about us—have we counted the cost of the decision we are about to make?
Going Forward
Is God done with Israel? No, after the LORD allows Babylon to destroy her nation, he shares with them his plan to show them mercy and grace (Lamentations 4:22a).
This should be encouraging to most Christians; Israel’s God is our God. Although we may mess up, suffer significant losses, and not know the way to go forward, God is still gracious and merciful when we repent.
If you are not a Christian, God can give you forgiveness, peace, spiritual life, and his favor. Just ask (more...).King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon appoints Gedaliah to govern the area of Jerusalem after he kills King Zedekiah and his sons. Gedaliah is a good, kind governor, who wants the small remnant of Jews in Jerusalem and Judea to have peace and prosperity. Although they must serve Babylon as a vassal nation and export the vast majority of their crops, they will have sufficient provisions to live on the rest of what they harvest.
Gedaliah is content to overlook past animosities and offer peace to the Jewish army and the other refugees who have scattered. These Jews see an opportunity for peace in their land and return home.
Discontent and Greed
For a few years, the Jews grow an abundant amount of grain and wine. Giving most of it away, however, is not acceptable to everyone. Under the prompting of the neighboring nation of Amon, Ishmael, son of Nethaniah (who is of royal Jewish blood), and ten men stage a coup against Gedaliah.
They kill him at Mizpah (the new center of Israel since Jerusalem is destroyed) and the Jews and Babylonian soldiers that are with him. They forfeit the grace that is theirs. Why? They are ambitious, and their plan seems better than God’s plan for them.
Are our plans too ambitious? Are we willing to wait on God or not? Can we be satisfied with what the LORD has given us, or are we greedy for more?
Not waiting on God has consequences
Ishmael and his ten men take all the Jewish remnant of Mizpah, including King Zedekiah’s daughters with them to Amon, but they need provisions. That same day, eighty men arrive from the northern territory of Israel and Samaria, in mourning for the calamity that has fallen upon Judah. They come to worship God at the place where the temple once stood. Ishmael feigns sympathy for them and then kills seventy of them to take their provisions.
When the rest of the Jewish army and men of Judah discover the coup, they pursue Ishmael and rescue their people from him. They also kill two of his men before the rest escape. Because of the assassination of Gedaliah, however, they are afraid to return to Israel. Instead, they go to Egypt because they think they will find peace and safety there.While on their way to Egypt, they stop at Bethlehem. They ask Jeremiah to seek the will of the LORD to confirm their plans. In a very spiritual sounding proclamation, they promise Jeremiah that whatever God says for them to do, they will do, good or bad.
When Jeremiah gives them the wrong answer from God (i.e., the answer they do not want), they refuse to believe him. The LORD tells them they must not go to Egypt, or they will die. If they stay in the land of Judah, however, their captors will have mercy on them, and the LORD will protect them.
Their course is set; however, their minds are already decided. In reality, they are just looking for God’s stamp of approval on their plans. They refuse to believe Jeremiah and continue on their journey to Egypt. Their stubbornness will lead to an almost complete wipeout of the Jewish people in Judah.
What about us—will we accept God’s plans for our life or resist them? What do we do when we are unsure of the right course to take? When do we forfeit, and when do we keep playing? If the LORD has been gracious to us, we need to keep following his will, pray, trust him, and not forfeit, even if victory doesn’t look promising.
Discussion
What costly mistake did Israel make that led to her exile? What mistakes do we make that lead to unfortunate results?
Is God still with us after we sin? How can we go forward?
Why is it essential to wait on God for direction?
End notes: For a complete discussion of this matter, consult The Bible Knowledge Commentary of the Old Testament, edited by Walvoord and Zuck, ©1985, p.1187.
Judah recently had an alliance with Egypt against Babylon before Judah was destroyed.
Focus Verse
Psalm 101:6 “My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he whose walk is blameless will minister to me.” (NIV)
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Looking Ahead: The Jews who fled to Egypt to escape the consequences of their treachery are not safe. Learn how Wrong Choices can Hurt. Join us for our Next Lesson.
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