...every courageous or timid step we take toward Him leads to a beyond-expectations life.
When I’m in the middle of a crisis, the last thing I want God to say to me is, “Stay.” There’ve been times when I bolted ahead in fear—even when I sensed Him telling me to wait. There’ve been even more instances when I didn’t pause my panicked thinking long enough to consider how He might be leading. I simply ran and often made the situation worse. After racing into countless messes over the years, I’m learning to turn toward the Lord in the middle of my distress so I might hear His quiet yet faithful voice. There, He speaks assurances to my timid heart, reminding me that He always, and only, leads me toward His very best, even when He guides my feet directly into a raging storm.
Sometimes, He quiets the howling wind. Sometimes, He leads us around it. Other times, He reveals His power as He carries us through it.
In Jeremiah 42, we see God laying the foundation for the latter. Babylon had conquered Jerusalem and taken thousands of people from Judah captive. Those who remained were left desolate, their appointed leader and those with him slaughtered. The survivors were terrified and wanted to flee to Egypt to escape the Babylonians, but first, they sought God.
Turning to God
Initially, they appeared to choose wisdom over fear. Jeremiah 42:1-3 states, "Then all the army officers, including Johanan son of Kareah and Jezaniah son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least to the greatest approached Jeremiah the prophet and said to him, 'Please hear our petition and pray to the Lord your God for this entire remnant. For as you now see, though we were once many, now only a few are left. Pray that the Lord your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do'” (NIV).
When the prophet Jeremiah assured them he’d do as they asked, they replied, “May the Lord be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with everything the Lord your God sends you to tell us. 6 Whether it is favorable or unfavorable, we will obey the Lord our God, to whom we are sending you, so that it will go well with us, for we will obey the Lord our God” (Jeremiah 42:5-6, NIV).
Superficial Obedience
The people were determined to obey before knowing how God would lead—at least, verbally. When we continue reading, however, we recognize that their commitment either didn’t run deep enough or simply didn’t last.
This makes one wonder what happened. Did they truly long to follow the Lord however He led, but, ultimately, they gave in to fear? Or were they simply stating what they thought Jeremiah and God wanted to hear?
Scripture doesn’t say. But the history it records makes one thing clear: We humans have a tendency to dull our hearing yet amplify our voices above God’s.
Consider the principle Jesus revealed in Matthew 13:15. Speaking of the Pharisees, He said, “For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.”
These religious leaders frequently encountered Christ and His teaching but remained unchanged because they’d already decided against it. Although Jesus spoke in parables, the issue wasn’t His delivery. They’d, in essence, barricaded their souls against the Holy Spirit’s influence and the freedom He longed to bring them. So focused on what they feared they might lose, they failed to see all they’d gain should they courageously follow wholeheartedly after Christ.
The people in Jeremiah’s day risked even more—their very lives. Then again, that was precisely what drove them to the Lord. They knew they’d never survive against the militant Babylonians on their own. Their dependence could’ve been their salvation—had they directed it fully to God.
A Promise and a Challenge
Ten days after their conversation with Jeremiah, he returned with an answer that made it difficult to hold tight to faith:
“He said to them, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your petition, says: ‘If you stay in this land, I will build you up and not tear you down; I will plant you and not uproot you, for I have relented concerning the disaster I have inflicted upon you. Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, whom you now fear. Do not be afraid of him,’ declares the Lord, ‘for I am with you and will save you and deliver you from his hands. I will show you compassion so that he will have compassion on you and restore you to your land.” Jeremiah 42:9-12
Had I been them, this proclamation would’ve brought relief and anxiety. I would’ve rejoiced at such a clear and positive reply! But I’m not certain this assurance would’ve silenced all my what-if thinking fueled by the horror I’d already witnessed. Although I’ve never lived in a war-torn area, I’ve seen enough clips to recognize the terror one experiences in such an environment. Did images of armed soldiers, destroyed homes, a decimated temple, and dead bodies make it hard for the people to trust?
God’s Warning
Based on what we read in verses 13-18, we see they wrestled with doubt, for God said, “However, if you say, ‘We will not stay in this land,’ and so disobey the Lord your God, and if you say, ‘No, we will go and live in Egypt, where we will not see war or hear the trumpet or be hungry for bread,’ then hear the word of the Lord, you remnant of Judah. This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel says: ‘If you are determined to go to Egypt and do go to settle there, then the sword you fear will overtake you there, and the famine you dread will follow you to Egypt, and there you will die” (NIV).
Choosing Death
Sadly, although the people initially claimed unwavering allegiance to God, their response to Jeremiah proved otherwise. They accused him of lying, saying, “Baruch son of Neriah is inciting you against us to hand us over to the Babylonians, so they may kill us or carry us into exile in Babylon” (Jeremiah 43:2-3).
When God’s reply wasn’t what they wanted to hear, they convinced themselves He hadn’t actually spoken.
Our fear can motivate us to react in the same way. We are a species known for self-deception, especially when we feel our lives, or way of life, are threatened. But in those moments, may we remember Jesus’ words in John 10:10 when He said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
May we recognize His warning and beautiful invitation. Whenever we turn from Him and His will, like the remnant of Judah, we slip toward increased dysfunction and death. Whereas, every courageous or timid step we take toward Him leads to a beyond-expectations life. May we seek His guidance, bolstering our faith by determining to obey before He directs our feet, trusting Him to fulfill every promise He’s made. And when our fear threatens to uproot the assurance He speaks into our souls, may we reflect deeply upon His heart and power revealed through His death and resurrection.
Again, sometimes, He directs us to avoid the storm. Sometimes, He quiets the tumult raging within and outside us. And sometimes, He bids us to stand our ground and find our strength in Him. While His response to our crises might change, His faithfulness toward us never will.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Cold Snowstorm
Jennifer Slattery is a writer and speaker who co-hosts the Faith Over Fear podcast and, along with a team of 6, the Your Daily Bible Verse podcast. She’s addressed women’s groups, Bible studies, and taught at writers conferences across the nation. She’s the author of Building a Family and numerous other titles and maintains a devotional blog at JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLou
She’s passionate about helping people experience Christ’s freedom in all areas of their lives. Visit her online to learn more about her speaking or to book her for your next women’s event, and sign up for her free quarterly newsletter HERE and make sure to connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and GodTube.
