Tag: Jeremiah 42:19-22
The Day of the Lord is near!
Scripture reading for August 24: Ezekiel 29-32
Whenever they got into trouble, Israel would often seek to go back to Egypt. After Moses led them out with a mighty deliverance, they talked of stoning him and choosing a new leader who would take them back. They easily forgot that that was a land of idolatry and slavery. Even after Babylon had conquered the nation of Israel and left a remnant there in the land of Israel, that group went down to Egypt for protection, against the advice of Jeremiah the prophet. (Jeremiah 42:19-22) (Jeremiah 43:7) In Ezekiel 29 was a prophesy given to Ezekiel concerning Egypt and Pharaoh. God warned them that their pride would bring judgment and defeat. God was bringing a sword against them that would leave the land of Egypt desolate for forty years. (Ezekiel 29:8-12) After forty years, God would bring a remnant of Egyptians back and they would be a lowly kingdom. Israel was to learn not to rely on Egypt and that the Lord was sovereign. (Ezekiel 29:16)
The prophet Ezekiel was to then announce that the day of the Lord was near. That day was to be a day of clouds and darkness. It would be a day of doom for the nations that Ezekiel had spoken about. A sword would arise from Babylon that would bring destruction on Egypt and her surrounding friends. (Ezekiel 30:1-4) This “day of the Lord” came to these people during the lifetime of Ezekiel. His Word from the Lord came to pass and Egypt went into captivity; Israel, Cush, and Tyre were destroyed as well.
We often hear the messages of the “day of the Lord” and “the end” and tend to think that they are a long way off. We feel that this could possibly be thousands of years away, or at least, not in our lifetime. I want to encourage you that this day could be today! We are told to live in readiness for Christ’s return. (Matthew 22:42-44) We are told that no one will know the day or hour, but that we should be watchful and prepared. (Matthew 24:36) For those who are ready by faith in Jesus Christ, it will be a day of joy and gladness. For those who experience this day outside of God’s mercy, it will be darkness, trouble and doom. We don’t know when that day might come, but we do know that it is nearer today than yesterday!
Thankful for an obedient heart!
Scripture reading for August 30th: Jeremiah 41-44
Key Scriptures: Jeremiah 42:19-22 “”O remnant of Judah, the Lord has told you, ‘Do not go to Egypt.’ Be sure of this: I warn you today that you made a fatal mistake when you sent me to the Lord your God and said, ‘Pray to the Lord our God for us; tell us everything He says and we will do it. I have told you today, but you still have not obeyed the Lord your God in all He sent me to tell you. So now, be sure of this: You will die by the sword, famine and plague in the place where you want to go to settle (Egypt).””
Jeremiah had been asked by the leaders of the remnant left in Jerusalem whether they should stay there under the Babylonian rule or go to Egypt. Jeremiah prayed and God answered: ‘Stay in Jerusalem.’ But the leaders knew better than God. God warned them what would happen if they went but they chose to disobey! Rebellion is stubborn and won’t listen to reason!
Lord, give me and obedient heart: “The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold silver, bronze, stone and wood–idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.” (Revelation 9:20-21)