by Jeremiah, Eugene and Me

Then hear the word of the LORD, O remnant of Judah. This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: `If you are determined to go to Egypt and you do go to settle there, then the sword you fear will overtake you there, and the famine you dread will follow you into Egypt, and there you will die.’

So Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers and all the people disobeyed the LORD’s command to stay in the land of Judah. Instead, Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers led away all the remnant of Judah who had come back to live in the land of Judah from all the nations where they had been scattered. They also led away all the men, women and children and the king’s daughters whom Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard had left with Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, and Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch son of Neriah. So they entered Egypt in disobedience to the LORD and went as far as Tahpanhes.

“Therefore, this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I am determined to bring disaster on you and to destroy all Judah. I will take away the remnant of Judah who were determined to go to Egypt to settle there. They will all perish in Egypt; they will fall by the sword or die from famine. From the least to the greatest, they will die by sword or famine. They will become an object of cursing and horror, of condemnation and reproach.” 42:15-16,43.43-44;44.11-12

Eugene Peterson says Israel opted for Egypt. It represented clarity, safety and security. After all hadn’t Abraham, the father of their faith, gone there ‘when he got tired of living by faith’ Why shouldn’t they do the same? Ge12.10-20

‘There is nothing more difficult than to live spontaneously, hopefully, virtuously, by faith. And there was never a time when the external conditions were less conducive.The temple was in rubble. The priests were silent.’ 358 Egypt was an easy way out of the mess. Egyptian religion offered external certainty, spiritual clarity, material security. 364

But for people of faith there is no easy way out. ‘Living by faith a means readiness to live by what cannot be seen or controlled’. 363 There may be certainties in faith. But they come from within rather than without. If it is nurtured, faith emerges in the messiness of life, but it doesn’t eliminate the mess. The clarity of vision and values that faith produces does not come from managing our environment, but learning to live our lives conscientiously in the light of God’s love. 360

The prophet begs the people to stay where they are – not to go to Egypt. But the people not only disregard his warning not to go, they drag him along with them.

So Jeremiah finishes his life struggling with the same problems he has struggled with all his life without any clear, happy, successful or satisfying resolution.

‘In Egypt, the place he doesn’t want to  be, with people who treat him badly, he continues determinedly faithful, magnificently courageous, heartlessly rejected’.366

I should expect a fate no different from that of Jeremiah.

I need to be prepared to continue to struggle with the same problems I have always struggled with without any clear, happy, successful or satisfying resolution.

Of these, my greatest struggle is to continue speak of things most people don’t want to hear about – the God of the bible, the gospel of Jesus Christ, his concern for the poor, and his call to live a life of radical, nonviolent, sacrificial compassion.

And in the midst of this mess, I need to learn to live my life like Jeremiah – with determined perseverance and substantive courage – even though I am rejected.

However, let me conclude by saying that I refuse to use this attitude as excuse not to continue to work towards the resolution of my problems, and I will rejoice in every opportunity I get to practice grace, extend forgiveness and resolve conflicts

So help me God.

Dave Andrews

Numbers refer to pages in The Quest by Eugene Peterson Zondervan Grand Rapids 2000