Jeremiah Chapter 42
Jeremiah 42
An Insincere Request for Guidance
Jeremiah 42:1-3, Johanan and the People Ask Jeremiah for Guidance
Jeremiah 42:1-3, “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, 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: That the LORD thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do.”
Jeremiah 42 follows the chaos of Jeremiah 41. Gedaliah has been murdered. Ishmael has massacred innocent worshippers and taken captives. Johanan has rescued the captives, but now the remnant is terrified of Babylonian retaliation. They are near Bethlehem, already moving in the direction of Egypt.
At this point all the captains, Johanan, Jezaniah, and all the people from the least to the greatest come to Jeremiah. On the surface, this looks like the right thing. They come to the prophet of the LORD and ask for prayer and guidance. They acknowledge they are only a remnant, “left but a few of many.”
Their request sounds humble. They ask Jeremiah to pray that the LORD would show them “the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do.” That is exactly what God’s people should ask. The problem is not the wording of the request. The problem is the condition of their hearts.
A small clue appears in their words, “the LORD thy God.” They speak to Jeremiah as though the LORD belongs more to him than to them. Later, they will say “the LORD our God,” but here the distance in their hearts is already visible.
The deeper problem is that they have likely already decided what they want to do. They want to go to Egypt. They do not truly seek direction. They seek confirmation. They want God to approve the plan they have already chosen.
This is a serious warning. Prayer becomes hypocrisy when a person asks for guidance while already determined to disobey if God’s answer contradicts his desire.
Jeremiah 42:4, Jeremiah Promises to Answer Their Request
Jeremiah 42:4, “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.”
Jeremiah agrees to pray. He does not invent an immediate answer. He will seek the LORD and wait for the LORD’s word. This is the right posture for a prophet. He must not speak until God gives him the message.
Jeremiah also corrects their language by saying, “the LORD your God.” They had said “the LORD thy God.” Jeremiah reminds them that the LORD is their God as well. They cannot keep Him at a distance and still claim covenant guidance.
Jeremiah promises full honesty. “Whatsoever thing the LORD shall answer you, I will declare it unto you; I will keep nothing back from you.” This is the mark of a faithful preacher and prophet. He does not tailor the message to what the people want to hear. He does not hide hard truth. He does not soften obedience.
The people want guidance. Jeremiah will give them God’s answer, but they must be ready for the possibility that God’s answer will contradict their plan.
Jeremiah 42:5-6, Johanan and the People Promise to Obey the Word of the LORD
Jeremiah 42:5-6, “Then they said to Jeremiah, The LORD be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the LORD thy God shall send thee to us. 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.”
The people now make a solemn promise. They call the LORD as “a true and faithful witness” against them if they do not obey everything He sends through Jeremiah. Their words are strong, serious, and outwardly reverent.
They say they will obey whether the answer is “good” or “evil.” This means whether it is pleasing or displeasing to them, whether it sounds favorable or difficult, whether it confirms their desire or opposes it. They claim total submission.
They also say, “the LORD our God.” Their language has shifted from “thy God” to “our God.” Outwardly, this sounds good. They recognize that obedience is the path of blessing, “that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the LORD our God.”
This is true doctrine. It is always well with God’s people when they obey Him. The danger is that true words can be spoken by false hearts. A person may say all the right things about obedience and still be inwardly determined to do his own will.
The chapter will prove that their promise was not sincere. They wanted God’s protection, but not God’s command. They wanted divine approval, but not divine authority.
Jeremiah 42:7-12, The Blessing to Those Who Remain in the Land
Jeremiah 42:7-12, “And it came to pass after ten days, that the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah. 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, And said unto them, Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, unto whom ye sent me to present your supplication before him; 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. 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. And I will shew mercies unto you, that he may have mercy upon you, and cause you to return to your own land.”
Ten days pass before the word of the LORD comes to Jeremiah. This shows that Jeremiah did not control revelation. The prophet waited on God. He could not produce a word on demand.
After ten days, Jeremiah calls Johanan, the captains, and all the people from the least to the greatest. The answer is for everyone. Leaders and common people alike must hear and obey.
God’s instruction is clear, “If ye will still abide in this land.” They must remain in Judah. This is the opposite of what they wanted. They feared Babylonian retaliation and thought Egypt would provide safety. God says the safe path is to stay where they are.
If they remain, God promises, “then will I build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up.” This language echoes Jeremiah’s original calling.
Jeremiah 1:10, “See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.”
For much of Jeremiah’s ministry, Judah experienced the pulling down and plucking up side of judgment. Now God offers building and planting to the remnant if they obey.
God says, “for I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you.” This does not mean God made a moral mistake. It means He relents concerning the calamity He had brought. The appointed judgment on Jerusalem had fallen. Now He offers mercy to the surviving remnant.
The heart of the command is, “Be not afraid of the king of Babylon.” Their fear is real, but God directly addresses it. Fear of Babylon is driving them toward Egypt. God says they must not let fear determine their obedience.
The promise is, “for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand.” The presence of God is better protection than Egypt’s armies. If God is with them, Babylon cannot destroy them.
God also promises to show them mercies so that the king of Babylon will have mercy on them and cause them to return to their own land. This means God can turn even the heart of a pagan king toward mercy.
Proverbs 21:1, “The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.”
The risky looking path is actually safe because God is there. The safe looking path to Egypt will prove deadly because it is disobedience.
Jeremiah 42:13-17, The Curse upon Those Who Return to Egypt
Jeremiah 42:13-17, “But if ye say, We will not dwell in this land, neither obey the voice of the LORD your God, Saying, No; but we will go into the land of Egypt, where we shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor have hunger of bread; and there will we dwell: 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; 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. 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.”
God now warns them against the path they have already been considering. If they refuse to dwell in the land and choose Egypt, they will be disobeying the voice of the LORD.
Their reasoning is stated plainly. In Egypt they think they will see no war, hear no trumpet, and have no hunger of bread. Egypt looks stable. Egypt looks fed. Egypt looks safe. Judah looks ruined, exposed, and dangerous.
But God tells them that the sword they fear will overtake them in Egypt. The famine they fear will follow close after them there. They will die in the very place they choose for safety.
This is a major biblical principle. When fear drives a person away from obedience, the thing he fears often follows him into the place of disobedience. Running from God’s command does not escape danger. It runs into judgment.
They are not merely choosing a travel route. They are setting their faces against the word of the LORD. To “set your faces” suggests fixed determination. They want Egypt, and their desire has hardened into a plan.
The judgment is severe. Those who set their faces to go to Egypt will die by sword, famine, and pestilence. None will remain or escape from the evil God brings upon them.
This is the reverse of the promise in Judah. If they stay, God will build and plant. If they go to Egypt, sword, famine, pestilence, and death will find them.
Jeremiah 42:18, An Oath to Punish Those Who Go to Egypt
Jeremiah 42:18, “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 compares the coming judgment in Egypt to the fury already poured out on Jerusalem. The remnant had seen Jerusalem burn. They had seen famine, death, captivity, and ruin. God says that same kind of fury will be poured out on them if they enter Egypt.
They will become an execration, an astonishment, a curse, and a reproach. Their fate will become a warning. People will look at them and see what happens when men ask for God’s word and then reject it.
The final phrase is heartbreaking, “and ye shall see this place no more.” If they go to Egypt, they will not return to the land. Their attempt to preserve themselves will cut them off from the place of promise.
The land looks dangerous, but it is where God commands them to remain. Egypt looks safe, but it is where God has forbidden them to go.
Jeremiah 42:19-22, Jeremiah Exposes the Hypocrisy of Their Hearts
Jeremiah 42:19-22, “The LORD hath said concerning you, O ye remnant of Judah; Go ye not into Egypt: know certainly that I have admonished you this day. For ye dissembled in your hearts, when ye sent me unto the LORD your God, saying, Pray for us unto the LORD our God; and according unto all that the LORD our God shall say, so declare unto us, and we will do it. And now I have this day declared it to you; but ye have not obeyed the voice of the LORD your God, nor any thing for the which he hath sent me unto you. Now therefore know certainly that ye shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, in the place whither ye desire to go and to sojourn.”
Jeremiah makes the command unmistakable, “Go ye not into Egypt.” There is no ambiguity. The issue is not unclear guidance. The issue is obedience.
Then Jeremiah exposes their hearts, “ye dissembled in your hearts.” They were hypocrites inwardly. Their request for guidance was not sincere submission. They had asked Jeremiah to pray and promised to obey whatever God said, but their hearts were already set on Egypt.
This is the danger of religious language without surrender. They said, “Pray for us.” They said, “Declare to us.” They said, “We will do it.” But God saw through the words. Their obedience was conditional on God agreeing with them.
Jeremiah says, “I have this day declared it to you; but ye have not obeyed.” This means their refusal was already clear. The moment God contradicted their plan, their disobedience was exposed.
Their destination is described as “the place whither ye desire to go.” That is the issue. Desire has replaced submission. They desire Egypt, and they will go there unless grace stops them.
The result is certain. They will die by sword, famine, and pestilence in the place where they desire to sojourn. They will find death in the place they chose for life.
Doctrinal and Practical Notes
Jeremiah 42 teaches that asking for guidance is not the same as seeking obedience. The remnant asked for God’s will, but their hearts were already set on Egypt.
Jeremiah 42 teaches that God’s answer may not come immediately. Jeremiah waited ten days for the word of the LORD.
Jeremiah 42 teaches that fear is a terrible counselor. The remnant feared Babylon and therefore desired Egypt, but God told them not to fear.
Jeremiah 42 teaches that the safest place is the place of obedience. Judah looked dangerous, but God promised to be with them there.
Jeremiah 42 teaches that the most dangerous place is the place of disobedience. Egypt looked safe, but God promised sword, famine, and pestilence there.
Jeremiah 42 teaches that God can change the disposition of rulers. If the remnant stayed, God would cause the king of Babylon to show mercy.
Jeremiah 42 teaches that religious vows are dangerous when the heart is not surrendered. The people swore to obey whether pleasing or displeasing, but they were hypocrites in their hearts.
Jeremiah 42 teaches that God sees the difference between prayer and manipulation. They wanted God’s approval for their plan, not God’s direction over their lives.
Jeremiah 42 teaches that running from feared danger in disobedience often brings that danger upon us. The sword and famine they feared in Judah would overtake them in Egypt.
Jeremiah 42 teaches that the remnant still needed faith after judgment. Surviving Jerusalem’s fall did not automatically make them obedient.
Summary
Jeremiah 42 records the remnant’s request for guidance after the murder of Gedaliah and the rescue of the captives from Ishmael. Johanan, Jezaniah, the captains, and all the people from the least to the greatest come to Jeremiah and ask him to pray to the LORD for them. They acknowledge that they are only a small remnant and ask that God show them the way to walk and the thing to do.
Jeremiah promises to pray and to declare whatever the LORD answers, keeping nothing back. The people solemnly promise that the LORD will be a true and faithful witness against them if they fail to obey. They say they will obey whether the word is pleasing or displeasing, so that it may be well with them.
After ten days, the word of the LORD comes to Jeremiah. He calls Johanan, the captains, and all the people and tells them that if they remain in the land, God will build them and not pull them down, plant them and not pluck them up. God tells them not to fear the king of Babylon, because He is with them to save and deliver them. He will show them mercy and cause the king of Babylon to have mercy on them.
But if they refuse to dwell in the land and set their faces to enter Egypt, seeking escape from war, trumpet, and hunger, then the sword they fear will overtake them in Egypt, and the famine they fear will follow them there. They will die by sword, famine, and pestilence, and none will escape the disaster God brings.
The LORD warns that as His fury was poured out on Jerusalem, so His fury will be poured out on them if they enter Egypt. They will become an execration, astonishment, curse, and reproach, and they will see the land no more.
Jeremiah then exposes their hypocrisy. They had asked him to pray and promised obedience, but they dissembled in their hearts. God’s command is clear, “Go ye not into Egypt.” Since they have already rejected the word, they will die by sword, famine, and pestilence in the place where they desire to go.
