Devotion 866

“The Lord Protects His Children”

Reference Jeremiah chapter 40

Until the work of Jeremiah was completed on this earth, no man, woman, boy, or girl could take his life. Until Moses had delivered the children of Israel from Egyptian bondage, and completed the work that God assigned him, no man, woman, boy, or girl could kill Moses. Pharaoh could not kill him, and neither could the Red Sea drown him. For God was with Moses. God was with Joseph, and his brothers could not kill him. Neither could many years in prison take away from what God's Word had proclaimed. God is always with His children by His Word.

Let's read.

Jeremiah 40:1-6 “The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after that Nebuzar–adan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him being bound in chains among all that were carried away captive of Jerusalem and Judah, which were carried away captive unto Babylon. [2] And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, The LORD thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place. [3] Now the LORD hath brought it, and done according as he hath said: because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing is come upon you. [4] And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which were upon thine hand. If it seem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come; and I will look well unto thee: but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear: behold, all the land is before thee: whither it seemeth good and convenient for thee to go, thither go. [5] Now while he was not yet gone back, he said, Go back also to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon hath made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people: or go wheresoever it seemeth convenient unto thee to go. So the captain of the guard gave him victuals and a reward, and let him go. [6] Then went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land.”

King Zedekiah had his eyes taken out and imprisoned by the king of Babylon. His children had been killed in his presence. The nobles of Judah have been executed, but Jeremiah walked as a free man, living in the governor's mansion. Why? Because God is with His children. The difference between Jeremiah and Zedekiah is that Jeremiah believed the Word of God, and Zedekiah rejected the Word of God, in unbelief. The difference between heaven and hell is the one who believes the Word of God and the one who rejects the Word of God. The same Word of God yesterday, today, and forever. The Word of God has a name. His name is Jesus Christ. He is here on earth today in the dispensation of the Holy Spirit. The Acts of the Holy Spirit in the Church.

We continue our reading.

Jeremiah 40:7-12 “Now when all the captains of the forces which were in the fields, even they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land, and had committed unto him men, and women, and children, and of the poor of the land, of them that were not carried away captive to Babylon; [8] Then they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men. [9] And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan sware unto them and to their men, saying, Fear not to serve the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you. [10] As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah to serve the Chaldeans, which will come unto us: but ye, gather ye wine, and summer fruits, and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that ye have taken. [11] Likewise when all the Jews that were in Moab, and among the Ammonites, and in Edom, and that were in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant of Judah, and that he had set over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan; [12] Even all the Jews returned out of all places whither they were driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah, unto Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruits very much.”

 Many believe after they have seen the evidence. The true believer needs no evidence. He or she simply believes.

John 20:29 ‘Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.’

The true believer is the blessed man or woman. They have not seen, but believe. They need no evidence to believe Jesus Christ is the Savior of their life.

We conclude our reading.

Jeremiah 40:13-16 “Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, [14] And said unto him, Dost thou certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay thee? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not. [15] Then Johanan the son of Kareah spake to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, Let me go, I pray thee, and I will slay Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man shall know it: wherefore should he slay thee, that all the Jews which are gathered unto thee should be scattered, and the remnant in Judah perish? [16] But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said unto Johanan the son of Kareah, Thou shalt not do this thing: for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael.”

Gedaliah should have taken this matter to the Lord and would have received his answer. We should always check with the Lord. When the answer from the Lord matches the answer from a man, then we must believe the man. Gedeliah did not believe the man outrightly, which led to his demise.

Let your heart be in tune with the Lord,o by His Word. BELIEVE and confess Jesus Christ, the Word of God, as we've revealed Him from the first Adam. God protects His children, in Christ!