God’s way and our understanding (Jeremiah 42)
Jeremiah 42:1-22
Shortly after we moved from the UK to Auckland, I was sitting in a Sunday service listening to a sermon on the well-known passage, ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight’ (Prov 3:5-6). The relocation to NZ was a hard decision and on my own understanding, I would not have come. I have lived in other countries before, so making a cross-cultural move was not the issue in itself. However, six months earlier when we visited NZ with a view to resettling here, I quickly realised that the adjustments I would have to make were too big a shift for me. In fact, we decided on that trip to stay in the UK for the time being. However, that same evening when we thought we had settled the matter, a job opportunity came my way through an email and we had just enough time still in NZ to fit in an interview in Auckland, which led to a job offer. I could not fail to see God’s hand in the circumstances and so here we were. Listening to that sermon on Proverbs 3, the pastor was saying, ‘Perhaps God brought you here today to hear this message to trust God and not your own understanding.’ And in my heart, I felt God saying, ‘Trust Me, it will all work out, just trust Me’.
The sensible choice and seeking God’s will
I cannot help but remember this incident as I read the story of the remnant in the land. On human understanding, it seemed reasonable to assume Babylonian reprisals at the massacre of their appointed governor, his officials, as well as Babylonian officers (Jer 41:2-3). It also seemed sensible to seek refuge from the other great power in the region that could potentially withstand Babylon, namely Egypt. Moreover, Egypt was the bread-basket of the Mediterranean with more predictable weather patterns and less likelihood of famine, so it seemed to offer a better life. And yet, and yet… God’s ways are sometimes different from what seems reasonable to us.[1] At least, the people ask God for advice and profess their sincere intention to follow God’s ways whatever His answer might be, even if it is not to their liking (Jer 42:2-3, 5-6). Although they may protest their sincerity too much here, whatever the real motivation, the sentiment expressed is right. When we seek God, we need to be willing to do what He says.
Wrestling for understanding and God’s way
Ten days of waiting follows while Jeremiah petitions God for an answer (Jer 42:7). We can imagine the tension as the people kick their heels near Bethlehem. Will Babylonian retribution catch up with them? Those times of searching for guidance and living in limbo can be hard. Yet, understanding God’s mind takes time. It is not that Jeremiah sits idly waiting for a word from God. More than likely the prophet, like us, prays and wrestles with the questions surrounding the issues, as He seeks the Lord’s will on the people’s behalf. The choice Jeremiah sets out to them is the one between human understanding and faith. If they trust God and stay in the land, they will be treated compassionately by the Lord and by Babylon (Jer 42:10-12), but if they choose to act on their fears of Babylon and famine (Jer 42:13-17), then the very things that they fear most will overtake them. Sensing the people’s resistance to God’s Word, Jeremiah underlines the seriousness of the issue by repeating the warning in no uncertain terms (Jer 42:18-22).
Our choices
The situation above is dramatic, but even in our mundane circumstances, the same choice between faith and sight, faith and human understanding is present. Giving money for God’s work out of meagre resources, choosing to do the honourable thing at work even if cheating would help us get ahead, not marrying someone against God’s will even if it promises to alleviate our loneliness, not giving in to temptations that satisfy our longing for immediate fulfilment are all choices of faith. And those choices say that we trust God that His ways are right and ultimately life-giving. May we be people of faith because the Lord is trustworthy and faithful.
[1] This, of course, does not mean that we must always go against what is sensible or that if a choice is unreasonable, it must be God’s will. We were given understanding to use it and many a time God guides us simply through our reason. However, when God clearly points us in a different direction, we need to trust Him even if, from our limited perspective, the decision does not make sense.
If you enjoyed this post, please share it with others.