Past Failures

O. T. #1816 "Past Failures"

Nov. 6, 2020

Jeremiah 44

LET IT GLOW

Do you have any past failures? Has any calamity forced you to examine your life? We need to take a close look at God's instructions for us and be willing to humbly apply what we find there. Jesus is our hope to get back on the right track.  

Just when you think it can't get any worse for the Jews, it does. The remnant of Jews that went to Egypt were a stubborn and rebellious group. Jeremiah was in Egypt against his will, but gave another message to the remnant, as recorded here- if the Jews there continued to worship idols, they would die in Egypt and not return to Judah. Of course, they had been warned about this before leaving Judah, so it was not new to them. These people refused to learn any lessons from all the destruction their sins had caused back there-burning of houses and the Temple.

Know any folks like that? They keep repeating the same mistakes in their life and wonder why they keep getting the same results?

Self-destruction is worse than any destruction by an enemy. It can include foolish decisions, dangerous habits, or blatant disobedience to God. To fail to learn from failure is to assure future failure. Our past is our school of experience. Let our past mistakes point us to God's way. (Life Application Study Bible) 

 LET IT GROW

What were the things of failure that this remnant did?

• We will not listen to your messages, Jeremiah, from the LORD!
• We will do whatever we want. (verse 16)
• We will burn incense and pour out liquid to the Queen of Heaven (fertility goddess, Asthoreth, which was worshiped sexual immorality) like our ancestor did in Judah.
• We had plenty to eat and were well off with no troubles. (verses 17-18)
• When the wives made cakes in the idol's image, their husbands knew about it and helped them.
• We will carry out our promises of doing those things to Asthoreth. (verse 25)

Oh my goodness, what a rebellious people. This present generation of Jews in Egypt perished and did not name the name of the Lord, as verse 26 says. They were consumed by the sword and famine. Yet, a small number that escaped death by the sword returned out of Egypt to Judah. Then all those that went to Egypt will find out whose words are true-God's or theirs.  They would know that God's words will surely stand against them for evil.

Here is a sign God would gave the Egyptian Jews of their own destruction: The Pharoah that came up to help the Jews in Jerusalem, would be turned over to Neb of Babylon, just as King Zedekiah of Judah had.

Only those who repented of going to Egypt and returned to their own land would escape judgment. God wanted of attitude and action. He always makes a way of escape, even when we get ourselves in so deep it doesn't look as if there is any way out.

How do get out of the effects of our failure?

1. Admit we have rebelled against God.
2. Forsake our sinful direction.
3. Seek to live as God instructs in His Word. (Life Application Study Bible)

LET IT GO

Help us Jesus to learn from our past failures.