JEREMIAH 44
How shall God bring His people to the place where He can bless and enjoy them? He sent His servants with the Word, but people would not listen. He chastened them with drought, but they did not repent. Then He allowed the enemy to humiliate them, but the people still would not obey the will of God.
Perhaps it would be different in Egypt. No, the change in geography did not change their hearts. They practiced their idolatry in Egypt, they even defended it! Before King Josiah’s reform, when they bowed down to idols, “they had plenty of food, were well-off, and saw no trouble” (v. 17)—as if those things are tests of truth! The wicked may prosper, but that is no excuse to sin.
In His mercy, God would rescue a small remnant of His people. The rest would be slain in the land they thought was so safe. Was God watching over them? Yes, but not for blessing (v. 27).