Jeremiah 42:7: “And it happened after ten days that the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah.”

November 10th, 2024 by Pastor Ed in devotional

Nebuchadnezzar had destroyed Jerusalem and taken most of the people captive to Babylon. The small remnant that remained came to Jeremiah and asked him to pray to God for them, as to what they should do and where they should go. And so Jeremiah prayed. After 10 days, God answered Jeremiah. This verse both encourages and convicts us. It is encouraging because even though Jeremiah didn’t hear from the Lord right away, God did answer. It also convicts us, because we often pray once for something, and then, when we don’t feel like we’re getting an answer, we complain that God never listens or answers our prayers, and we stop seeking Him. There are very few times in our lives when we have sought God on something consistently, every day, for days in a row.

But why did God wait 10 days before answering Jeremiah? Perhaps the delay was to test the people; they said they would do whatever God commanded, but they had already decided that they wanted to go to Egypt. Would they wait for God’s response or just give up and go to Egypt anyway. It seems they already knew God’s will, but were asking for a sign because they were trying to decide whether or not to follow God. When they finally got the word from Jeremiah, 10 days later, that God said do not go to Egypt, but remain in the Promised Land, they weren’t happy. Because they didn’t like His answer they went back on their promise to obey, instead ignoring His command and leaving for Egypt.

Horace Greeley, editor and journalist, said, “Fame is a vapor, popularity an accident, and riches take wings. Only one thing endures and that is character.” Abraham Lincoln was known for his integrity because of the way he lived. At the age of 24, Lincoln served as the postmaster of New Salem, Illinois. In 1836 the Post Office was closed:

but it was several years before an agent arrived from Washington to settle accounts with ex-postmaster Lincoln, now a struggling lawyer and not doing very well. The agent informed Lincoln that according to his records $17 was due the government. Abe crossed the room, opened an old trunk and took out a yellowed cotton sack bound with string. Untying the bag, he shook out the contents, and there was exactly $17. “Honest Abe” had been holding it untouched, in safekeeping, for all these years.

“I never use any man’s money but my own,” said Lincoln.

God wants His people to be people of integrity and character, because how else will the world see Him in us?

“LORD, we need Your grace to make us a people of our word this day, in Jesus’ name.”