Jeremiah 43:9-11

Trouble will follow you wherever you go. That’s what happens when we try to outrun God’s commandments. If we disobey his voice because we are afraid of some trouble that it will bring, undoubtedly we will find the same trouble or worse wherever we run to. The interim leaders of the Judean rabble had asked Jeremiah to seek what the Lord would have them do. However, the Lord wanted them to stay in Judah. They didn’t want to do this at all – since they thought Nebuchadnezzar would for sure be back to slaughter them all pretty soon. Instead they wanted to run to Egypt: a ‘safe’ place.

Well, we know that throughout the Bible, Egypt can be seen as a symbol for the world. It was where the Israelites had come from into the Promised Land, in the exodus. It is a good illustration of how we came out of the world, and while currently in the wilderness, heading for the Promised Land, one day we will enjoy the bliss of heaven. Now, these Judeans wanted to go back into Egypt. It was safer, more secure. More comfortable. A wise option. So they thought. But it was disobedience to God’s command. God wanted them to stay in Judah.

Thus, when they got there, God tells Jeremiah:

‘Take large stones in your hand, and hide them in the sight of the men of Judah, in the clay in the brick courtyard which is at the entrance to Pharaoh's house in Tahpanhes; and say to them, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Behold, I will send and bring Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant, and will set his throne above these stones that I have hidden. And he will spread his royal pavilion over them. When he comes, he shall strike the land of Egypt and deliver to death those appointed for death, and to captivity those appointed for captivity, and to the sword those appointed for the sword.”’ (Jeremiah 43:9-11)

Trouble will follow them. What they sought to escape, they have only run into. Man’s wisdom is folly.

Let’s take a lesson from this. Sometimes God’s commands and His will imply possible risk. It implies danger often. But running from this, back to the world, will only result in meeting that danger head-on, without God’s protection. Let’s be confident that whatever the danger, doing God’s will is the way to go: because He can always protect us!