King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Thursday, August 21, 2025
Chapters: Jeremiah 41-44
Message: Jeremiah: Rebels Flee to Egypt
Hello My Friend,
As we return to the reading of Jeremiah we learn that wicked are stubborn mules who think they are in control, but all they are doing is digging their own graves, [Psalms 10:4-9 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. 5 His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them. 6 He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity. 7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity. 8 He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor. 9 He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.]
Wow! That is one powerful message and a mouthful written in this passage, but it is spot on. Think about it, who has more pride than anyone on this earth? Satan. Yes, Satan is here, lurking about, planning his temporary takeover of the earth while he has his minions creating havoc with things like climate change, diversity, equity, and inclusion, socialism, and my body, my choice. Who does he catch in his net? The very people full of pride, stubborn, willful, and illeducated in what is really going on. These are the very people who think that it is okay for a pedophile, human trafficker, and drug dealer to walk the streets and live their lives while their victims get persecuted. These are also the very people that bring God’s judgments upon their nations, [Proverbs 6:16-19 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.]
A prime example of this is the people of Israel and in particular, Judah. We have been reading about their takeover of Nebuchadnezzar. It has been three years since Nebuchadnezzar carried most of Judah to Babylon, including the king. There was only a small group left of them but as long as they remained there they would be under God’s protection and could start rebuilding the nation under the direction of the man appointed as their governor who was Gedaliah. However, a group of rebels decided that they were going to escape to Egypt.
[Jeremiah 41:1-3 Now it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, and the princes of the king, even ten men with him, came unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and there they did eat bread together in Mizpah. 2 Then arose Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and the ten men that were with him, and smote Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan with the sword, and slew him, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land. 3 Ishmael also slew all the Jews that were with him, even with Gedaliah, at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans that were found there, and the men of war.]
It is mind boggling that eleven men could kill so many people. Perhaps there were only a few, but why did Ishmael kill all these people? He thought that since he was the kings nephew that he rightfully deserved to be on the throne. The problem with people like Ishmael is that they are full of so much pride that they literally become violent and anyone who stands in their way becomes a threat and target. Why do you think that so many people hate Donald Trump and those who support him? The very same reason. This fool killed everyone who got in his way, including a group of innocent men passing through just in case they saw what happened.
[Jeremiah 41:5,7-8 That there came certain from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, even fourscore men, having their beards shaven, and their clothes rent, and having cut themselves, with offerings and incense in their hand, to bring them to the house of the LORD. 7 And it was so, when they came into the midst of the city, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah slew them, and cast them into the midst of the pit, he, and the men that were with him. 8 But ten men were found among them that said unto Ishmael, Slay us not: for we have treasures in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil, and of honey. So he forbare, and slew them not among their brethren.]
Although cutting themselves was not biblical, these men mourned the destruction of the temple and captivity of the people. Their road led past the city of Mizpah, and they traveled along without the slightest apprehension of the danger ahead. These are actually prophecies that Jeremiah gave the people after Nebuchadnezzar had carried away king Zedekiah. Now, things were getting out of control and Ishmael knew it too, he proceeded to capture the remnant that remained in Judah, including Jeremiah, and headed toward the Ammonites, in an attempt to sell them as slaves, but his plan backfired on him when a man named Johanan fought back.
[Jeremiah 41:10-13 Then Ishmael carried away captive all the residue of the people that were in Mizpah, even the king’s daughters, and all the people that remained in Mizpah, whom Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard had committed to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam: and Ishmael the son of Nethaniah carried them away captive, and departed to go over to the Ammonites. 11 But when Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, heard of all the evil that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had done, 12 Then they took all the men, and went to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and found him by the great waters that are in Gibeon. 13 Now it came to pass, that when all the people which were with Ishmael saw Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, then they were glad.]
Looking upon Johanan as their savior, they were glad to follow him in hopes that they would escape from becoming slaves to the king of Ammon. However, that hope would soon come to an end when he was leading them toward Egypt, the very place that God told them not to go.
[Jeremiah 41:15-18 But Ishmael the son of Nethaniah escaped from Johanan with eight men, and went to the Ammonites. 16 Then took Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, all the remnant of the people whom he had recovered from Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, from Mizpah, after that he had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, even mighty men of war, and the women, and the children, and the eunuchs, whom he had brought again from Gibeon: 17 And they departed, and dwelt in the habitation of Chimham, which is by Beth-lehem, to go to enter into Egypt, 18 Because of the Chaldeans: for they were afraid of them, because Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon made governor in the land.]
Things were getting out of hand, they were conspiring against each other and being killed left and right. Remember, God warned them that if they went into Egypt then they would die. Now, with everyone in a panic, Johanan, and the captains find Jeremiah, and asks him to pray for them.
[Jeremiah 42:1-4 Then all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least even unto the greatest, came near, 2 And said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:) 3 That the LORD thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do. 4 Then Jeremiah the prophet said unto them, I have heard you; behold, I will pray unto the LORD your God according to your words; and it shall come to pass, that whatsoever thing the LORD shall answer you, I will declare it unto you; I will keep nothing back from you.]
Notice that they ask him to pray to his God, but Jeremiah was quick to remind them that He was still their God as well. The first test of any person who says they want to hear what God has to say is if they are going to obey what He says. Well, they gladly accepted Jeremiah’s response and even promised to do whatever God said.
[Jeremiah 42:6-9 Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the LORD our God. 7 And it came to pass after ten days, that the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah. 8 Then called he Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces which were with him, and all the people from the least even to the greatest, 9 And said unto them, Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, unto whom ye sent me to present your supplication before him;]
The evil, meaning the famine and disease that have plagued the land in the three years that Babylon and the Chaldean’s took over Judah. The true test of their faith and whether or not they will obey God would come when God answered them. Ten days later God sends Jeremiah back to them with a message, [Jeremiah 42:10-12 If ye will still abide in this land, then will I build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up: for I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you. 11 Be not afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him, saith the LORD: for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand. 12 And I will shew mercies unto you, that he may have mercy upon you, and cause you to return to your own land.]
Even though God does have His faithful in the midst of the world’s judgments that does not mean that He will not protect them. The reason why so many Christians live defeated lives is because they are trusting in their own abilities to get them though their challenges, even when praying to God. These people were afraid of the Chaldean’s, lack of food, and the disease that was taking out people by the multitude, but they did not have to if they would only listen to God. And now came the judgment if they did not obey God.
[Jeremiah 42:15-18 And now therefore hear the word of the LORD, ye remnant of Judah; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; If ye wholly set your faces to enter into Egypt, and go to sojourn there; 16 Then it shall come to pass, that the sword, which ye feared, shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine, whereof ye were afraid, shall follow close after you there in Egypt; and there ye shall die. 17 So shall it be with all the men that set their faces to go into Egypt to sojourn there; they shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: and none of them shall remain or escape from the evil that I will bring upon them. 18 For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As mine anger and my fury hath been poured forth upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem; so shall my fury be poured forth upon you, when ye shall enter into Egypt: and ye shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach; and ye shall see this place no more.]
God, calls them out, He flat out tells them that they have brought all this on themselves for not only their attitude toward Him, but blatantly ignoring everything He said. He already knew that these people were not sincere in wanting to know His will and follow it. And with that said how do you think they responded? These proud and arrogant men accused Jeremiah of lying and took them all to Egypt.
[Jeremiah 43:2-5 Then spake Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men, saying unto Jeremiah, Thou speakest falsely: the LORD our God hath not sent thee to say, Go not into Egypt to sojourn there: 3 But Baruch the son of Neriah setteth thee on against us, for to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they might put us to death, and carry us away captives into Babylon. 4 So Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, and all the people, obeyed not the voice of the LORD, to dwell in the land of Judah. 5 But Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, took all the remnant of Judah, that were returned from all nations, whither they had been driven, to dwell in the land of Judah;]
If we are going to call of God for help, then we need to make sure that we are willing to accept the answer that He gives us. Okay, we may not always agree with His answer, but if we listen to Him and go where He tells us then we will come out of it safely, [1 John 5:2-3 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.]
God’s commands truly are not grievous and for our own good I might add, but the truth is that many will not follow them because they enjoy their sin more than their safety. God, did not say anything different than He had already been saying them and they were not ignorant to that fact either. God, reiterates what will happen to them if they step foot onto Egypt after telling Jeremiah to gather and hide some stones.
[Jeremiah 43:9-12 Take great stones in thine hand, and hide them in the clay in the brickkiln, which is at the entry of Pharaoh’s house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah; 10 And say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will set his throne upon these stones that I have hid; and he shall spread his royal pavilion over them. 11 And when he cometh, he shall smite the land of Egypt, and deliver such as are for death to death; and such as are for captivity to captivity; and such as are for the sword to the sword. 12 And I will kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt; and he shall burn them, and carry them away captives: and he shall array himself with the land of Egypt, as a shepherd putteth on his garment; and he shall go forth from thence in peace.]
Do you see what was really going on here? This was God dealing with Egypt after centuries of their dealings with Israel. This was God’s way of saying that because they did not listen to Him, Egypt would now fact the same judgment. God, uses everything for a purpose, and God uses this opportunity to have all their idols destroyed, just like He did with Israel. These fools thought that they were avoiding judgment by going Egypt, but all they did was make matters worse, they were now going to die there, and not peacefully either.
[Jeremiah 44:2-4,7,13 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Ye have seen all the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, and upon all the cities of Judah; and, behold, this day they are a desolation, and no man dwelleth therein, 3 Because of their wickedness which they have committed to provoke me to anger, in that they went to burn incense, and to serve other gods, whom they knew not, neither they, ye, nor your fathers. 4 Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate. 7 Therefore now thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; Wherefore commit ye this great evil against your souls, to cut off from you man and woman, child and suckling, out of Judah, to leave you none to remain; 13 For I will punish them that dwell in the land of Egypt, as I have punished Jerusalem, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence:]
Anyone who denies the truth of Christ commits a great evil against their own soul as they will end up in hell and those who follow them will go down there with them. It is not God who sends souls to hell, it is not even Satan. it is each and every person who denies the truth, [2 Timothy 2:11-13 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: 13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.]
Well, as you can imagine, that news did not go so well, in fact, the people rebelled even more and actually had the nerve to say that they were perfectly fine worshiping their false gods until they stopped, [Jeremiah 44:15-17 Then all the men which knew that their wives had burned incense unto other gods, and all the women that stood by, a great multitude, even all the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying, 16 As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee. 17 But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.]
Now, that Satan in all his glory, he loves to make one think that by their accepting Christ that they will suffer more. We all backslide to some extent, from time to time, even if it is just for a little bit but the honest truth is that they will suffer if they keep living in sin without repentance. This is what Jeremiah is trying to tell them.
[Jeremiah 44:20-23 Then Jeremiah said unto all the people, to the men, and to the women, and to all the people which had given him that answer, saying, 21 The incense that ye burned in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, ye, and your fathers, your kings, and your princes, and the people of the land, did not the LORD remember them, and came it not into his mind? 22 So that the LORD could no longer bear, because of the evil of your doings, and because of the abominations which ye have committed; therefore is your land a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as at this day. 23 Because ye have burned incense, and because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, nor walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in his testimonies; therefore this evil is happened unto you, as at this day.]
The more you read the Bible the more you begin to understand how God works and that much of the evil we face today is a result of judgments God has placed on nations, whether they be His own or played a part of His own. Sometimes, His faithful even fall short as they become overwhelmed by all the affliction they seem to never get enough of. God, knows all this and right now what He is actually doing is as they say, separating the men from the boys or women from the girls. While the majority of those who were taken into Egypt would die there, God assures them that His faithful will survive.
[Jeremiah 44:25-27,29 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying; Ye and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and fulfilled with your hand, saying, We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her: ye will surely accomplish your vows, and surely perform your vows. 26 Therefore hear ye the word of the LORD, all Judah that dwell in the land of Egypt; Behold, I have sworn by my great name, saith the LORD, that my name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, The Lord GOD liveth. 27 Behold, I will watch over them for evil, and not for good: and all the men of Judah that are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine, until there be an end of them. 29 And this shall be a sign unto you, saith the LORD, that I will punish you in this place, that ye may know that my words shall surely stand against you for evil:]
God’s faithful are small in number, but in the end they are the ones who will be exalted, even in lapses of judgment. God has mercy, grace, and patience on all who seek Him, but He knows if we are sincere in what we are asking of Him. Imagine the power that Jesus has to help us walk on water, but we stop Him out of pride and therefore sink. Imagine the miracles He has yet to show us, but limit Him because we choose what want we obey from His Word. We cannot expect to see God do the impossible if we are not willing to do the possible, [2 Timothy 2:15-16 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.]
Today’s Prayer: God, The world is getting more evil by the day, we are fighting over things that have no merit, and innocent people are getting caught up in it all. Lord, soften some hearts, help them to let go of their pride, sin, and or fear, and turn to You. Be with those who are caught up in the middle of Your judgments, bring them to safety, and let them know You are near and will take care of them. Give us Your power, wisdom, and guidance to go where You tell us to go, help us reach those who are in the midst of the judgments, and give us Your strength to endure the suffering we face for our faith. I pray this in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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