Jeremiah 43 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
What we see here in chapter 43 is just the usual for Jeremiah. Once again, after all that has happened, the men of Judah decide he is a liar and they will not obey the words of the Lord to come back to their land. They will continue to Egypt where they believe it’s safer and more comfortable. Unbelievable.
The saddest part is that they take a whole crew with them. These “leaders” make the decision to disobey and bring so many others down with them. It’s such a sad theme that keeps repeating itself chapter after chapter, and we are left wondering if they are ever going to get it. Do you know someone like this?
Here is the hope, however. God is sovereign over this entire situation and story. Yes, there will be a cost to their disobedience, but there is a purpose behind even the most disobedient people in the Bible. Read that again. God works even in disobedience. In fact, he arguably does some of His best work. If nothing else, it shows us just how selfish and prideful we can be when we set our hearts and minds on what we want.
Jeremiah let them walk. It had to be the hardest thing to watch. He told them the truth, but they would not believe it. Do you know someone like this? Some would be killed by disease. Some would be killed by war. Still others would be captured by Babylon. But Jeremiah let them walk. He did everything in his power to warn them and left the rest up to God. Where do you need to live by these words in your life today?