Have we ever asked someone for their opinion because we were unsure which choice to make, even though we actually already had the answer we wanted? We do want to hear their opinion, but deep down we hope they’ll say something that makes us even more certain of that choice. When their answer turns out to be different, we may feel disappointed or start looking for reasons to justify our own choice. Perhaps it is not because we did not want to listen from the start, but because we were not yet ready to accept an answer that differed from our expectations.
The people of Judah found themselves in just such a situation in Jeremiah 42:1–22. After Gedaliah was murdered, they found themselves in a precarious position. If they remained in Judah, they feared the Babylonians would accuse them of being involved in the murder. Conversely, Egypt seemed to offer more promising protection. In the midst of this uncertainty, they came to Jeremiah and asked that the Lord show them the path they should take. They even promised to obey the Lord’s word, whatever the answer might be.
Jeremiah did not give an immediate answer. He waited ten days before delivering the word of the Lord. This delay showed that he did not wish to speak in the name of the Lord based on his own assumptions. When the Lord finally revealed His will, the answer did not align with the option that might have seemed safer to them: do not go to Egypt, but remain in Judah. The Lord even gave a promise: “I will build you up and not tear you down; I will make you flourish and not uproot you.” Amidst circumstances that had not yet recovered, the Lord offered not merely security, but His presence and a future.
That answer was certainly not easy to accept. From a human perspective, going to Egypt might seem like a sensible choice. Yet, this is where the sincerity of our requests for guidance is put to the test. We may come to the Lord with sincere questions, yet at the same time carry our own fears, desires and hopes. Without fully realising it, we may not only be seeking guidance, but also hoping that the Lord will validate the choices we have already made.
Dear Bible Friends, have we ever behaved in a similar way to God’s people in those days? Coming to God with sincere prayer, yet secretly hoping that His answer would align with our own plans. Yet, seeking God’s guidance means opening ourselves up to the possibility that He may show us a path different from what we desire. When that happens, we may not always understand everything straight away. So, we can start by acknowledging what we fear and learning to trust that God remains with us. For faith is not only about the courage to ask God questions, but also the humility to listen when His answers differ from what we expect.
