Jeremiah 41
-This chapter gives some
interesting intrigue narrative during the time of exile as to the leadership
and people left in the land of Israel. After Gedaliah had ignored the warning
from Johanan concerning the evil intentions Ishmael of the royal family,
Ishmael, along with ten men came to Mizpah (for geographical info see http://bibleatlas.org/regional/mizpah.htm)
and slew the appointed leader of the land while he was eating bread with his
companions (Jeremiah 41:1-2). Ishmael and his men also slew the Jews who were
with Gedaliah and the Chaldeans who were found there, the men of war (Jeremiah
41:3). The next day, 80 men from Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria came to Jerusalem
with beards shaven and clothes torn and bodies gashed (sign of repentance and
lamentation) to present grain offerings and incense before the LORD at His
Temple. Ishmael deceived them and brought them into the city to kill them as
well and throw all but ten of them into a cistern built by King Asa of Judah
for King Baasha of Israel (1 Kings 15:17-22, 2 Chronicles 16:1-6). The ten
begged for their lives and gave information on their stores of wheat, barley,
oil, and honey hidden in a field somewhere. From this we can speculate that
Ishmael’s intentions on the killing for financial reasons. Then Ishmael took
captive all the remnant people in Mizpah and proceeded north to eventually join
up with the sons of Ammon (Jeremiah 41:4-10).
-But Johanan and all the
commanders of the forces that were with him heard of all the evil Ishmael had
done and chase them down by the great pool that is in Gibeon (for geographical
info see http://bibleatlas.org/regional/gibeon.htm).
When the people taken captive by Ishmael saw Johanan and his forces that were
with him, they were glad and turned around and came back with Johanan for
safety and protection from their internment. Meanwhile, Ishmael and eight men
with him escaped to the sons of Ammon. The remnant of Johanan ventured to
Geruth Chimham, which is beside Bethlehem (for geographical info see http://bibleatlas.org/geruth_chimham.htm),
on their way to Egypt because they were now afraid that the Chaldeans would be
coming on account of the disruptions and unsettled situation in the land on
account of Gedaliah’s death (Jeremiah 41:11-18). *Application* What can we take
from this twisted and somewhat random historical narrative for our lives today?
The answer lies in waiting on the LORD and submitting to His timing. God had
told the remnant people His intentions for blessing in the land while their
brothers and sisters were away in exile just in the previous chapter (Jeremiah
40:9-12). Ishmael and his zealous companions tried to subvert the peace for
their own agenda and nationalistic pride it certainly appears. Our best
response in any situation is to be patient and let the LORD have His way with
us. When we do, we will find that things will somehow work out in a beneficial
manner. When we take matters into our own hands when God isn’t in it, we screw
things up every time. Don’t be an Ishmael. Go God’s way!
Verse to Memorize: Jeremiah 41:2
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