Scripture Reading : Jeremiah 42
Theme : Warning against Going to Egypt
The remnant is afraid of the Babylonians, but is also afraid of going to Egypt. So they ask Jeremiah to inquire God for them. In reality, they did not want to seek God’s guidance; they only wanted to ask God to affirm their choice of going to Egypt. God warns them not to go to Egypt because the temptation to worship idols will be even greater in Egypt. It was idol worship that caused God to judge Judah. God had spared the remnant from death and exile, but if they go down to Egypt they will worship idols in Egypt. For such sin, God will destroy them. If they go to Egypt, the very things that they are afraid of: death and war, will happen to them. The remnant insanely rejects God’s warning and stubbornly disobey God
Praying the Scripture
The sinful, fleshly nature possesses insanity (Eccl. 9:3). This sinful nature bounds the will so that the will of unregenerate people are enslaved to sin. They will distrust God no matter how much God tries to reach out to them. Only by God’s grace can unregenerate people’s hearts be changed and trust God as lord and savior. Praise God for saving you. If He did not show grace to you, you would be like these Jews who will always insanely reject God.
经文：耶利米书42
主题：警告勿往埃及
犹大余民既惧怕巴比伦人，又对前往埃及感到不安，因此求耶利米代他们寻问神自己当如何行。实际上，他们并不想寻求神的带领；他们只想求神在他们所作出的决定上印上盖章。由于敬拜偶像的试探会更重，神警戒他们勿往埃及；犹大曾因敬拜偶像而招致神的审判。神已使这群余民幸免死亡与掳掠，但倘若他们下到埃及，他们将会在那里敬拜偶像，由此招致神的刑罚。倘若他们下到埃及，他们将会面临自己当时所不愿面对的一切：死亡与争战。犹大余民像疯子似的极力拒绝神的警告，更顽梗地违抗祂。
用经文祷告
世人的心充满了恶，活着的时候心存狂妄（传9:3）。罪性辖制着人的意志，尚未重生者是罪的奴役，故此不能信靠神。唯有藉着神的恩典，未重生之人的心才得改变，相信神是救主。赞美神拯救你，若不是祂向你施恩典，你也可能像这些犹太人一样顽梗地拒绝神。
