Which Way Will I Take, With My God-Given Free Choice?
Scripture Passage: Jeremiah 40:1-6 (NASB)
1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord after Nebuzaradan captain of the bodyguard had released him from Ramah, when he had taken him bound in chains among all the exiles of Jerusalem and Judah who were being exiled to Babylon. 2 Now the captain of the bodyguard had taken Jeremiah and said to him, “The Lord your God promised this disaster against this place; 3 and the Lord has brought it and done just as He promised. Because you people sinned against the Lord and did not listen to His voice, this thing has happened to you. 4 But now, behold, I am setting you free today from the chains that are on your hands. If you would prefer to come with me to Babylon, come along, and I will look after you; but if you would prefer not to come with me to Babylon, do not come. Look, the whole land is before you; go wherever it seems good and right for you to go.” 5 As Jeremiah was still not going back, he said, “Go on back then to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the cities of Judah, and stay with him among the people; or else go anywhere it seems right for you to go.” So the captain of the bodyguard gave him a ration and a gift, and let him go. 6 Then Jeremiah went to Mizpah to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam and stayed with him among the people who were left in the land.
SUMMARY
When the exiles of Jerusalem and Judah were chained and sent into captivity to Babylon, the Nebuzaradan captain of the bodyguard freed Jeremiah. He understood that the disaster happened to people in Judah because they did not listen to God and sinned against God. Nebuzaradan offered to look after Jeremiah if he would prefer to come to Babylon. He also gave Jeremiah the free choice to go where it seemed good and right for him to go. Jeremiah went to Mizpah to stay with the people who were left in the land.
REFLECTION
When I meditated on today’s passage, I was amazed by the courage and faith of Jeremiah. He not only boldly spoke God’s word again and again to his fellow countrymen, but also fearlessly chose to stay with the remaining people after the fall of Jerusalem. Buying a field at Anathoth (Jer 32) or staying in the ruined land were Jeremiah’s act of faith that God would one day restore. Despite that the people of Judah did not listen, and Jeremiah knew the distresses were coming, the prophet chose to stay and to participate in their sufferings. He sought not his own comfort or preservation of his own life, but he suffered with the people in the desolated land. Jeremiah was able to put his trust in God because he knew the faithfulness of our God.
APPLICATION
The free choices given to Jeremiah by the Babylonian bodyguard reminded me of the many free choices God allowed me to have in my life. Oftentimes, I chose my own comfort and what I thought was best for myself, my future or my family. I chose not to suffer and often rationalize that is the wise thing to do. After becoming a Christian, I witnessed many Christ’s followers make many choices in their life not be the wisest by the worldly view. They chose sufferings, detours and delays because of their faith in God. Just like how Jeremiah demonstrated, many examples set by great people of God were not going after what are best and easiest for themselves. They view things through God’s perspective and they trust in God’s promises. I am once reminded by God today in my quiet time to wait for His timing and trust not my own feeling and impulsive choice. I will welcome inconvenience in my daily life or step out of my comfort zone this coming week at my workplace or for my children’s school. In hope that in my willingness to yield myself, God can use me or my family for His kingdom.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for Your word today that revealed the courage you gave to prophet Jeremiah. I pray that You will give me the same courage to speak truth and act in faith in my life. Help me not to seek my own comfort and preservation of my own life. I pray that me and my family continue to follow Jesus and choose the narrow gate. In Jesus name I pray.
Please share your personal meditations on this Scripture passage with the HolyWave community in the comments section below. (We reserve the right to moderate comments.)