Daily Devotional for November 23, 2015
Jeremiah 42
Scripture:
5 Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with everything the LORD your God sends you to tell us. 6 Whether it is favorable or unfavorable, we will obey the LORD our God, to whom we are sending you, so that it will go well with us, for we will obey the LORD our God.” 7 Ten days later the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah. 8 So he called together Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers who were with him and all the people from the least to the greatest. 9 He said to them, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your petition, says: 10 ‘If you stay in this land, I will build you up and not tear you down; I will plant you and not uproot you, for I am grieved over the disaster I have inflicted on you. 11 Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, whom you now fear. Do not be afraid of him, declares the LORD, for I am with you and will save you and deliver you from his hands. 12 I will show you compassion so that he will have compassion on you and restore you to your land.’
Observation:
The Israelites had been through great tragedy. Their loved ones had been slaughtered by Babylon, and now the governor appointed by the king had been murdered. The Israelites knew the king would find out, and they feared for their safety and the safety of their children and families.
The people wisely went to the prophet Jeremiah to ask God’s advice. Jeremiah spent ten days in intercession, and God answered that the people should stay in the land of Israel and not flee to Egypt.
“Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, whom you now fear. Do not be afraid of him, declares the Lord, for I am with you and will save you and deliver you from his hands” (Jeremiah 42:11).
Unfortunately, the people’s fear was stronger than their faith, and they fled to Egypt. Their fear drove them from the place of God’s blessing.
When we go through difficult circumstances, a natural response is fear. But God wants our faith to be stronger than our fears. He desires to give us a supernatural faith in Him that overcomes our natural fears.
Application:
- Personal Application: Fear can cause us to react in ways that may not be what God wants. As Spirit-Empowered Men we must put our trust in the Holy Spirit to help us overcome those fears. God has promised to guide us and lead us on this discipleship journey. Are there any fears that have been holding you back from what God wants for you? If so, how do you plan to overcome those fears?
- Family Devotional: Read this chapter to your family. Encourage them to overcome their fears by putting their trust in the Lord. Ask them if there are any fears that are holding them back on their discipleship journey. Pray for them to overcome those fears.
Prayer:
- Personal Prayer Focus: Ask the Lord to help you develop faith in Him stronger than your fears.
- Family Prayer Focus: Pray that the Lord will help your family overcome any fears that are holding them back on their discipleship journey.
Three Year Reading Plan for Sunday, November 22 – Sunday, November 29:
- Sunday, November 22: Jeremiah 41
- Monday, November 23: Jeremiah 42
- Tuesday, November 24: Jeremiah 43
- Wednesday, November 25: Jeremiah 44
- Thursday, November 26: Jeremiah 45-46
- Friday, November 27: Jeremiah 47
- Saturday, November 28: Jeremiah 48
- Sunday, November 29: Jeremiah 49
—TOM GROOT is National Director of Men’s Ministry and Christian Education. Connect with Tom on Facebook or Twitter @TomGrootJr.
Portions of this devotional are adapted from God’s Word for Today, August 25, 2014, written by Kevin Dawson.
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