Jeremiah · chapter 42 of 52
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Jeremiah 42 tells how Johanan and all the people ask Jeremiah to pray to the Lord and promise to obey his answer. After ten days God answers: if they stay in Judah he will build them up and not tear them down; if they go to Egypt they will die by sword, famine and plague. Jeremiah warns that they have deceived themselves, because they asked for prayer with no intention of obeying.
After the murder of Gedaliah, Johanan's group stops near Bethlehem intending to flee to Egypt. Before going on, they ask Jeremiah to seek God's will. The chapter shows the difference between asking God in order to obey him and asking him to bless a decision already made.
Johanan son of Kareah, Jezaniah son of Hoshaiah and all the people, from the least to the greatest, come to Jeremiah. They ask him to pray to the Lord for this whole remnant, since they are only a few left of many, and that the Lord may show them the way they should go and what they should do. Jeremiah agrees to pray and promises to tell them everything the Lord answers, keeping nothing back. They swear before the Lord that they will obey, whether what he says is good or bad.
Ten days later the word of the Lord comes. Jeremiah gathers all the people and tells them that if they stay in this land, the Lord will build them up and not tear them down, plant them and not uproot them, for he relents of the disaster he brought on them. They must not fear the king of Babylon, for the Lord will be with them to save them and will show them mercy.
But if they say they will not stay, and will go to Egypt so they do not see war or hear the trumpet or go hungry, then the sword they fear will overtake them there, and the famine they dread will follow them to Egypt, and they will die there. All who set their minds to go to Egypt will die by sword, famine and plague, and none will survive the disaster the Lord will bring.
Jeremiah ends by telling them that they have deceived themselves: they sent him to pray and promised to obey, but so far they have not obeyed anything the Lord said. And he warns them plainly that they will die by sword, famine and plague in the place where they want to go and live.
References follow ESV book names and verse numbers. Read each verse in your Bible before the explanation.
The people swear before the Lord that they will do all he says through Jeremiah, whether good or bad. Their promise is solemn, but it is tested when the answer comes, because obedience is not measured by what we promise before we hear.
If they stay in the land, the Lord will build them up and plant them, for he relents of the disaster he brought on them. God offers life and restoration amid the ruins, and the condition is not to flee to Egypt.
The Lord tells them not to fear the king of Babylon, for he will be with them to save them and deliver them from his hand. The fear pushing them toward Egypt is met with a promise: the Lord is greater than the enemy.
Jeremiah tells them they deceived themselves when they asked him to pray and promised to obey. A request for guidance can be a way of seeking approval, not a real willingness to change plans.
6 questions with answers and references, ready for Sunday school, small group or a Bible quiz night.
Answer: To pray to the Lord for them and show them the way they should go and what they should do. — Jeremiah 42:2-3
Answer: To obey everything the Lord says through Jeremiah, whether good or bad. — Jeremiah 42:5-6
Answer: Ten days. — Jeremiah 42:7
Answer: He will build them up and not tear them down, plant them and not uproot them. — Jeremiah 42:10
Answer: They will die by sword, famine and plague, with no survivors. — Jeremiah 42:16-17
Answer: That they deceived themselves, for they asked for prayer and promised to obey without doing so. — Jeremiah 42:20-21
Jeremiah 42 invites us to examine why we ask God for direction. Sometimes we ask with an answer already chosen in our hearts. In a small group you can ask yourselves whether you are willing to obey even if the answer is not what you hoped, and whether there are decisions where you seek permission more than guidance.
The chapter also encourages: God offers to build, plant and save in the midst of ruins, if they trust him and not the easy exits. Staying where God says, afraid, can be safer than leaving in comfort. Pray together for enough faith to obey when the road looks risky.
Jeremiah delivers God's answer without softening it, but the people had already made their decision. In chapter 43 they accuse Jeremiah of lying, go to Egypt and take him with them.
It is biblical language expressing compassion: God changes his dealing with his people when they turn to him. It does not mean he made a mistake, but that his discipline had a purpose and he was ready to restore those who obeyed.
Because God had told them expressly not to go, and Egypt stood for trusting human power instead of the Lord. Also, Israel had come out of Egypt as a free people. Going back out of fear was a denial of that history.