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Jeremiah 41 (ESV)

¹⁶ Then Johanan the son of Kareah and all the leaders of the forces with him took from Mizpah all the rest of the people whom he had recovered from Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, after he had struck down Gedaliah the son of Ahikam—soldiers, women, children, and eunuchs, whom Johanan brought back from Gibeon. ¹⁷ And they went and stayed at Geruth Chimham near Bethlehem, intending to go to Egypt ¹⁸ because of the Chaldeans. For they were afraid of them, because Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had struck down Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land.

REFLECTION:

The remnants of Judah lost the Law and faith in God in the desolate cities. Johanan and others fled to Egypt because they were afraid of the Chaldeans. They traveled south from Gibeon, stopped at Geruth Chimham near Bethlehem, and pretended to go to Jeremiah to ask for God’s will, but as Jeremiah said later, they didn’t really ask him for God’s will, but they had their own opinions in their hearts, and they only wanted to hear what they agreed with. Today, our fear will also cause us to lose confidence, so that we can make our own decisions and no longer want to follow God’s guidance. We should ask ourselves what we are afraid of. As Paul asked, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?” (Romans 8:35, ESV). May we imitate Paul, without fear in our hearts, and in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

PRAYER:

Come to God humbly and tell God the fear in your heart; ask God to make you attracted by His love and willing to make sacrifices because you love God, because there is no fear in love; God has given you the courage not to fear of anything in the future, more than conquering through the Lord who loved us.

HYMN:

Whom Shall I Fear – youtu.be/qOkImV2cJDg