"So they went to the land of Egypt, for they did not obey the voice of the LORD. And they went as far as Tahpanhes. Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, saying, “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 43:7-11
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,
People run from marriages, neighborhoods, churches, schools and social settings, because they think these are what is causing their unhappiness and discontented spirit. The people of Judah ran to Egypt despite Jeremiah's warnings to stay put and trust in God's love and care for them. Their impulse was to flee from the problem and in fleeing they thought they could outrun it. We have all done this...we change the backdrops of our lives in hopes that we will then find the peace we are seeking for our hearts. Some of us live our lives this way.
Running away from a problem or a situation does not work...in fact it usually causes more problems. The problem in your life is not the backdrops or the people God has placed on your particular stage. The problem is your heart. You bring yourself wherever you go. You can't run or hide because you can't run from who you are. What these people needed was a new heart. It didn't matter where they went. In fact the Lord told them clearly that by running to Egypt they would meet with the very same man they were fleeing. He would find them in Egypt. Many of us think if I just did this it would be better or if I moved here things would work out or if I had a different husband...the list is endless. The reality is, however, that things will only work out if God is at the center of your life and on the throne of your heart. You bring who you are with you where ever you run...
Love
Mom
Matthew 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Jeremiah 33:3 'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
God's Heart for Us
“The LORD has said concerning you, O remnant of Judah, ‘Do not go to Egypt!’ Know certainly that I have admonished you this day. For you were hypocrites in your hearts when you sent me to the LORD your God, saying, ‘Pray for us to the LORD our God, and according to all that the LORD your God says, so declare to us and we will do it.’ And I have this day declared it to you, but you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD your God, or anything which He has sent you by me. Now therefore, know certainly that you shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence in the place where you desire to go to dwell.”--Jeremiah 42:
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,
All the people came to Jeremiah to ask him to pray to the Lord for them that the He would show them the way in which they should walk and the thing that they should do. Jeremiah said he would and the people promised to obey no matter what the Lord's answer was. After 10 days the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah and His answer to the people was that they were to stay put and not to flee to Egypt. If they stayed, God would deliver them and prosper them. If they fled to Egypt, they would meet with there, all that they feared in Judah. Disaster would come upon them. Now it seems from reading verse 20 that the people had already determined what they were going to do.
For you were hypocrites in your hearts when you sent me to the LORD your God, saying, ‘Pray for us to the LORD our God, and according to all that the LORD your God says, so declare to us and we will do it.
The word used in the King James for hypocrites in your hearts is "dissemble" and means to deceive. How foolish when people ask for God's guidance but have no intention of following it. Perhaps they want to try to get God on their side or maybe they want to look good by outwardly doing the right thing. All such profession is vain and hypocritical. Better not to pray at all.
God knows our hearts. The Bible tells us that to obey is better than sacrifice. Our Lord discerns our empty words. He is not mocked. Our God will suffer long because that is who He is, but make no mistake: if you do not turn, judgment will come. No one escapes His hand. Much is said about the Lord's mercy, His longsuffering, and His kindness in the Bible, but as my pastor said last week, "Do not mistake the Lord's longsuffering for indifference." Judgment will come. Yes, He is merciful. Yes, He relents from doing harm when we repent and turn, but if we do not, the time of judgment does and will come.
Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever! --Deuteronomy 5:29
That is God's heart for us. He wants our hearts to be completely His. When this is the case, He knows it will be well with us forever. As a mom I can so understand those words. I want it to be well with my children forever. I want them to walk with their God in truth. I know that the best life they can live is one lived in the will of God. One lived for Him. There is no better or safer place. The language of the original is emphatic: "Mee yittain wehayah levavom zeh lahem", literally, "Who will give that there may be such a heart in them?" They refuse to receive such a heart from me, who then can supply it?
No truer words were ever spoken. A changed heart is a miracle from God. We must be willing to receive it. Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem knowing the fate it would suffer a short 70 years after His crucifixion. He wanted to gather His children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but they were not willing!
Jeremiah's heart, like Jesus', was for it to be well with his countrymen. He too wept for the hardness of their hearts. He preached and spoke all the words of God for over 40 years to them. The people refused to hear. They did not want to obey. God is not willing that any should perish but that all should have life in His name. John 5:40 says this: "But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life." God gave the people of Judah opportunity after opportunity to obey Him. They heard but did not heed. Judgment came.
Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him."--Luke 8:18
Love
Mom
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,
All the people came to Jeremiah to ask him to pray to the Lord for them that the He would show them the way in which they should walk and the thing that they should do. Jeremiah said he would and the people promised to obey no matter what the Lord's answer was. After 10 days the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah and His answer to the people was that they were to stay put and not to flee to Egypt. If they stayed, God would deliver them and prosper them. If they fled to Egypt, they would meet with there, all that they feared in Judah. Disaster would come upon them. Now it seems from reading verse 20 that the people had already determined what they were going to do.
For you were hypocrites in your hearts when you sent me to the LORD your God, saying, ‘Pray for us to the LORD our God, and according to all that the LORD your God says, so declare to us and we will do it.
The word used in the King James for hypocrites in your hearts is "dissemble" and means to deceive. How foolish when people ask for God's guidance but have no intention of following it. Perhaps they want to try to get God on their side or maybe they want to look good by outwardly doing the right thing. All such profession is vain and hypocritical. Better not to pray at all.
God knows our hearts. The Bible tells us that to obey is better than sacrifice. Our Lord discerns our empty words. He is not mocked. Our God will suffer long because that is who He is, but make no mistake: if you do not turn, judgment will come. No one escapes His hand. Much is said about the Lord's mercy, His longsuffering, and His kindness in the Bible, but as my pastor said last week, "Do not mistake the Lord's longsuffering for indifference." Judgment will come. Yes, He is merciful. Yes, He relents from doing harm when we repent and turn, but if we do not, the time of judgment does and will come.
Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever! --Deuteronomy 5:29
That is God's heart for us. He wants our hearts to be completely His. When this is the case, He knows it will be well with us forever. As a mom I can so understand those words. I want it to be well with my children forever. I want them to walk with their God in truth. I know that the best life they can live is one lived in the will of God. One lived for Him. There is no better or safer place. The language of the original is emphatic: "Mee yittain wehayah levavom zeh lahem", literally, "Who will give that there may be such a heart in them?" They refuse to receive such a heart from me, who then can supply it?
No truer words were ever spoken. A changed heart is a miracle from God. We must be willing to receive it. Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem knowing the fate it would suffer a short 70 years after His crucifixion. He wanted to gather His children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but they were not willing!
Jeremiah's heart, like Jesus', was for it to be well with his countrymen. He too wept for the hardness of their hearts. He preached and spoke all the words of God for over 40 years to them. The people refused to hear. They did not want to obey. God is not willing that any should perish but that all should have life in His name. John 5:40 says this: "But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life." God gave the people of Judah opportunity after opportunity to obey Him. They heard but did not heed. Judgment came.
Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him."--Luke 8:18
Love
Mom
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