SWHW Bible Reading Plan: June 2021Sample

Top Takeaway from Caren Fehr:

After the massacres we see in Mizpah in Jeremiah 41, the leaders and citizens left in the land were understandably a wreck. In Chapter 42, we see their anxiety leading them to Jeremiah with the hope that he would receive a word from the Lord on their behalf.

On the surface, it seemed like their request was humble. But what gave them away was how they phrased their request in verses 2-3, “Please hear our petition and pray to the Lord your God for this entire remnant. For as you now see, though we were once many, now only a few are left. Pray that the Lord your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do.”

Two times they refer to God as Jeremiah’s God, not their personal God. I just find that interesting. It’s true that their language changes in verse 6. Still, it leaves us wondering if their request was in fact sincere, or if they were simply doing whatever they could to get God on their side, in order to have Him be all for them, without them being all for Him.

In their case, we eventually see that self-interest was the motivation behind their desire for a word from Jeremiah’s God. They just wanted to see if God would approve of their plan to migrate to Egypt. To them, God was not feared. He was a means to an end.

Nevertheless, Jeremiah did as they asked and he sought the Lord for His word for them. After 10 days, Jeremiah brought the word of the Lord. Let’s just say, it wasn’t what they hoped.

In verses 19-22, the hypocrisy and deception of their hearts are exposed. They would go to Egypt regardless of what God had said because in their hearts that’s what they had already decided they would do.

Because they knew of God, they sought His favor. But, because they didn’t truly know God, when His answer was not their preference, they disobeyed. Without a personal and intimate fellowship with God, there will be no real conviction nor desire to obey.

Therefore, God’s judgment came upon them as He said it would.

We can pause here to meditate on a few questions that, hopefully, will make room for an honest heart check: 

• Do we seek God with a wholly submitted heart that will yield to whatever He tells us to do, or is there evidence of “pretend” sincerity? 


• Do we express our desire to know God’s will, but deep down in our hearts we are still determined and planning to follow our own way? 


• Do we ask God to bless our way and attempt to turn Him to our side, or do we ask for His way and the power to help us deny our own?

Let’s not merely read God’s Word, but truly heed the warnings and truth in It and assess our own hearts today! 

Father, You are God. You see all and You know all. Help us to come before You honestly and reverently. When we seek You, may our hearts be sincere. When we need You, may we be most desperate for Your presence and Your will. As David prayed in Psalm 139, search us and know our hearts. Test us and reveal our anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in us and lead us in the way of everlasting. We love You. Amen.