Don't ASK unless you PLAN on OBEYING!

“Listen, you remnant of Judah. The Lord has told you: ‘Do not go to Egypt!’ Don’t forget this warning I have given you today. 20 For you were not being honest when you sent me to pray to the Lord your God for you. You said, ‘Just tell us what the Lord our God says, and we will do it!’ 21 And today I have told you exactly what he said, but you will not obey the Lord your God any better now than you have in the past. 22 So you can be sure that you will die from war, famine, and disease in Egypt, where you insist on going.”

In this very challenging passage from the OT book of the prophet Jeremiah, the remaining people of Judah approached Jeremiah with a PLEA begging him to GO before the LORD and ask Him "WHAT" the people should do. You see, they were facing down some giants in neighbouring armies who were set to invade and likely over take this small remnant of people. BUT Jeremiah was not happy with their request because he was a bit jaded, maybe perhaps even cynical because this was not the first time they had approached him. The people of Israel and Judah in the OT were notorious for seeking God's direction and NOT following through with it and Jeremiah knew this. But he still went before the LORD and took their request to Him! The response was for them to stay put, to stand strong with the LORD'S help and they would be safe and prosper. However, Jeremiah knew that the people of Judah had their hearts set on "greener pastures" on the land of Egypt where they though they could escape war, famine, and disease and when Jeremiah delivered the news that they REALLY didn't want to hear he WARNED them that to SEEK God without intending to OBEY is dangerous territory!

Let me ASK you something... "How many times have you PRAYED for something but you NEVER had any intention of truly listening?" "How many times have you sought an ANSWER from God but only wanted the ANSWER you wanted?"

The REALITY is simply this, Jesus tells us to continually SEEK God and James tells us to SEEK WISDOM from God. BUT... and it's a BIG BUT... DON'T DO IT if you have no intention of following through with the ANSWER you receive from God. Jeremiah reminds each and every one of us in this passage that it is DANGEROUS territory to tread upon and we should NEVER do so lightly!

SEEKING His LEADING...

Rev Trev