I the Lord test the mind and search the heart, to give to all according to their ways, according to the fruit of their doings. Jeremiah 17:10 NRSV.

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things. Philippians 4:8 NKJV.

Last night on Zoom we watched and talked about the episode of The Chosen Season 4 where Simon’s name had been changed by Jesus to Peter because God had revealed to Peter who Jesus was. The part we watched was the fallout of that with the disciples, especially Matthew. Having been a hated tax collector, Matthew struggled with the unresolved anger his brothers had for him. And Peter has been elevated. Matthew doesn’t know what to do with that hurt. Jesus asked Matthew if he had asked Peter to forgive him. But until he could ask for that forgiveness, he needed to see the need for that forgiveness. And to make it more clear, Jesus told Matthew asking for forgiveness is not about you being forgiven. It’s about repentance. Jesus gets to the heart of the matter of what is needed, not just for Matthew, but for each one of us.

And our chapter, Jeremiah 42, is such a curious chapter. Jerusalem has already fallen. The governor appointed by the king of Babylon has been murdered as have been many other people. There is nothing stable left for the remnant. So they turn to Jeremiah. Then all the army officers, including Johanan son of Koreah and Jezaniah son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least to the greatest approached Jeremiah the prophet and said to him, “Please hear our petition and pray to the Lord your God for this entire remnant. For as you now see, though we were once many, now only a few are left. Pray that the Lord your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do.” v. 1-3. The Lord your God??? Really? And then this overly dramatic pledge…Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the Lord be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with everything the Lord your God sends you to tell us. Whether it is favorable or unfavorable, we will obey the Lord our God, to whom we are sending you, so that it will go well with us, for we will obey the Lord our God.” v. 5-6. May the Lord be a true and faithful witness?? Then it goes from the Lord your God to the Lord our God so that it will go well with them. 10 days passed. He said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your petition, says: ‘If you stay in this land, I will build you up and not tear you down; I will plant you and not uproot you, for I have relented concerning the disaster I have inflicted on you. Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, whom you now fear. Do not be afraid of him, declares the Lord, for I am with you and will save you and deliver you from his hands. I will show you compassion so that he will have compassion on you and restore you to your land.’ “However, if you say, ‘We will not stay in this land,’ and so disobey the Lord your God, and if you say, ‘No, we will go and live in Egypt, where we will not see war or hear the trumpet or be hungry for bread,’ then hear the word of the Lord, you remnant of Judah. This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘If you are determined to go to Egypt and you do go to settle there, then the sword you fear will overtake you there, and the famine you dread will follow you to Egypt, and there you will die.’” v. 9-10. The same thing God told those still in Jerusalem during the siege He now tells the remnant. Stay in Judah. God will provide. And Jeremiah reminds them, “Remnant of Judah, the Lord has told you, ‘Do not go to Egypt.’ Be sure of this: I warn you today that you made a fatal mistake when you sent me to the Lord your God and said, ‘Pray to the Lord our God for us; tell us everything He says and we will do it.’ I have told you today, but you still have not obeyed the Lord your God in all He sent me to tell you. So now, be sure of this: You will die by the sword, famine and plague in the place where you want to go to settle.” v. 19-22.

After reading this chapter I thought about these people. Why couldn’t they just listen and do what they asked God to tell them? And Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit, reminded me of my folly. I worry and project into the future my worries and fears and they become real to me; and then I go to God in prayer and ask for His help to fix “it”. Do I listen to Him? Imagine sitting around a fire as The Chosen depicted Jesus and Matthew doing, and imagine God telling you why you are hurting and what needs to be done. His is the voice of love. He didn’t condemn Matthew. God wasn’t condemning the remnant of Judah. He was telling them what would happen based upon their choices. Do we listen? Do we want to listen to God? Do you find it difficult to believe that God who created all things would know what will happen? If that’s so, you are in the company of all who trust only in themselves. When you find yourself wanting to listen, you will find yourself Home in Almighty God who loves you and is ready to help. He knows you. Matthew knew where his home was and it was with Jesus helping him. That is our true home. Jesus came to show us the Father’s love. He did His part. He is doing it still. The love of Creator God is so profound it lights the way and the darkness flees!