Jeremiah Preaches to the Exiled in Egypt

Text: Jeremiah 44:1-14

Reflection and Question: Jeremiah conveys God’s question to the Judeans seeking safety in Egypt from the Assyrian invasion of their home: “Why bring so great a disaster upon yourselves?” Then God reminds the people that there is no safety in Egypt, but only in obedience and reverence. When God’s people stray from these virtues, as we always do, calamity awaits; that is Jeremiah’s message here. We can try faithfully to avert the disaster, but in the end it is God who chooses through Christ to rescue us from the judgment preached by Jeremiah. What is your response to Jeremiah’s question and warning?

Prayer: Eternal and Almighty God, it is not our intent to bring disaster upon ourselves. As far as we know ourselves, our desire is to worship You and to please You. Forgive us, we pray. Set us today on the true path toward You and You alone. Amen.

This meditation is based on the Daily Lectionary Year 1 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).