When Fear Overrides Faith Choosing Disobedience Over God’s Word
- Be God's Glory
- Aug 25
- 11 min read
Welcome to Day 237 of The Glory Team Bible Reading plan and we are in the book of Jeremiah. These chapters reveal one of the most tragic moments in Judah’s history: the people’s refusal to trust God even after He gave them clear guidance. After the fall of Jerusalem, the surviving remnant, shaken and uncertain, sought God’s direction through Jeremiah. Though they promised obedience, their hearts were already set on fleeing to Egypt for safety. When God’s answer contradicted their plans, they accused Jeremiah of lying and defiantly chose their own path. In Egypt, they returned to idolatry, worshiping the “queen of heaven,” which provoked God’s final pronouncement of judgment. Collectively, these chapters highlight the danger of seeking God’s counsel with a pre-decided heart and the consequences of rejecting His word.
Jeremiah 42
In chapter 42, the surviving leaders of Judah, including Johanan and the commanders, approached Jeremiah and asked him to seek God’s direction on their behalf, pledging full obedience to whatever God would say (42:5–6). Jeremiah prayed and, after ten days, delivered God’s answer: if the people stayed in Judah, God would build and protect them, but if they fled to Egypt, they would face sword, famine, and plague (42:9–17). God assured them of His presence if they remained in the land, but warned of disaster if they disobeyed. Despite their oath to listen, their request revealed a heart already leaning toward Egypt. The chapter emphasizes that God’s guidance demands trust, and seeking His word while clinging to our own will leads to judgment.
Jeremiah 43
In chapter 43, the leaders, including Azariah and Johanan, rejected Jeremiah’s prophecy and accused him of being influenced by Baruch to betray them into Babylon’s hands (43:2–3). Refusing God’s command to remain in Judah, they gathered the remnant, including Jeremiah and Baruch, and forcibly migrated to Egypt (43:5–7). Once in Tahpanhes, God gave Jeremiah a prophetic sign: he was to bury large stones at the entrance of Pharaoh’s palace, declaring that Nebuchadnezzar would set his throne there and conquer Egypt (43:9–10). This symbolic act confirmed that Egypt, the place they trusted for safety, would itself fall under Babylon’s power. The chapter underscores how rebellion blinds people to truth and leads them into the very danger they tried to escape.
Jeremiah 44
In chapter 44, Jeremiah confronted the Jews living in Egypt, rebuking them for continuing the very sins—idolatry and burning incense to foreign gods—that caused Jerusalem’s destruction (44:2–6). Instead of repenting, the people openly defied Jeremiah, declaring their commitment to worship the “queen of heaven,” claiming their prosperity had ceased only after they abandoned her (44:17–18). This shocking rebellion revealed their hardened hearts and distortion of history, blaming their downfall on obedience rather than disobedience. Jeremiah countered by affirming that their idolatry was the root cause of their suffering, and he declared that God’s judgment would pursue them even in Egypt (44:20–27). The chapter concludes with God’s word that only a small remnant would survive, proving His word true. It highlights that idolatry blinds people to truth, breeds defiance, and leads to destruction.
Origin & Meaning of the Name:
The name Jeremiah comes from the Hebrew Yirmĕyāhû or Yirmĕyāh, meaning “Yahweh will exalt,” “Yahweh appoints,” or “The Lord establishes.” This meaning reflects Jeremiah’s prophetic calling, as God appointed him before his birth to be “a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5). The name itself is a prophetic statement of God’s sovereignty and purpose in raising up His messengers.
Purpose of the Book:
The Book of Jeremiah serves as both a record of God’s judgment and His invitation to repentance. Written during a time of national decline in Judah (late 7th to early 6th century B.C.), its purpose is to:
Warn Judah of the coming Babylonian invasion as a consequence of their covenant unfaithfulness.
Call the people to repentance, offering them the hope of restoration if they return to God.
Explain the fall of Jerusalem and the exile as part of God’s sovereign plan.
Provide hope for the future, pointing toward a new covenant where God’s law would be written on the hearts of His people (Jeremiah 31:31–34).
It is both a book of judgment and a book of hope—showing God’s justice in punishing sin and His mercy in promising restoration.
Authorship & Sources Supporting the Author:
The prophet Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah, is credited as the author of the book, with assistance from his scribe Baruch son of Neriah.
Biblical evidence for Jeremiah as the author includes:
Jeremiah 1:1–2 – Clearly identifies Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah, as the prophet who received the words of the Lord.
Jeremiah 36:1–4 – God commands Jeremiah to dictate His words to Baruch, who writes them down on a scroll.
Jeremiah 36:32 – After King Jehoiakim burns the first scroll, Jeremiah dictates the same words again to Baruch, along with additional messages.
2 Chronicles 35:25 – Mentions Jeremiah writing laments for King Josiah.
Daniel 9:2 – Refers to “the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet” as authoritative Scripture, confirming early recognition of his writings.
External historical sources also support Jeremiah’s authorship:
The Babylonian Talmud (Baba Bathra 14b–15a) lists Jeremiah as the author of his prophetic book, the Book of Kings, and Lamentations.
Jewish historian Flavius Josephus (Antiquities of the Jews, Book 10, Chapter 5) records Jeremiah as the prophet who warned of Jerusalem’s fall and wrote about it.
Ancient Septuagint manuscripts (Greek translation of the Old Testament, 3rd–2nd century B.C.) attribute the prophecies to Jeremiah, though in slightly different order than the Hebrew text.
Key People:
Jeremiah – The “weeping prophet,” called by God to warn Judah of coming judgment and to urge repentance.
Baruch son of Neriah – Jeremiah’s faithful scribe who recorded and preserved his messages.
King Josiah – The last godly king of Judah, under whom Jeremiah began his ministry.
King Jehoiakim – Rejected Jeremiah’s warnings and burned his prophetic scroll.
King Zedekiah – The last king of Judah before the Babylonian exile; vacillated between listening to Jeremiah and fearing his officials.
Nebuchadnezzar – King of Babylon who conquered Jerusalem and carried the people into exile.
Ebed-Melek – An Ethiopian court official who rescued Jeremiah from a cistern.
False prophets like Hananiah – Opposed Jeremiah’s message, promising peace when judgment was coming.
Conclusion
The Book of Jeremiah ends with the tragic reality of Jerusalem’s destruction and Judah’s exile to Babylon (chapters 39–52), fulfilling the very warnings Jeremiah proclaimed for decades. Yet, it is not a message of despair—it also points forward to God’s faithfulness in keeping His promises. The prophecies of a new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31–34) and future restoration reveal God’s ultimate plan to redeem His people. Jeremiah’s ministry demonstrates that God’s word is unchanging, His justice is certain, and His mercy is always available to those who return to Him with a sincere heart. Even in judgment, God is working for the good of His people and the fulfillment of His redemptive purposes.
What is God's Name in these Chapters?
In this portion of our journey we want to dive deep into the character of God described in His name. By identifying who God is, we can further relate to Him personally and build a stronger relationship and connection with Our Father.
Names are important. They give significance to places, people, and things. We identify with so much based off what it's name is. This is considerably notable when it comes to the names of God.
"Jehovah" is considered a Latinized version of the Hebrew name "Yahweh" (represented by the consonants YHWH) where the vowels of the Hebrew word "Adonai" (meaning "my Lord") were added to the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) when pronounced by Jewish readers who avoided saying the sacred name directly; essentially, Christian scholars combined the consonants of YHWH with the vowels of Adonai to create the pronunciation "Jehovah" in the Latin alphabet.
Looking for the Names of God from the previous chapters? Due to the overwhelming amount of names we had to dedicate a special place for them for the sake of space. Click the link to see them:
Jeremiah 42
In Jeremiah 42, God shows Himself as patient and faithful to guide His people when they seek His counsel. Even though the remnant of Judah was fearful and uncertain, He did not ignore their request for direction. Instead, He responded with clear promises of protection if they obeyed Him and equally clear warnings if they chose disobedience. His character here reflects both His mercy in offering safety and His justice in warning of consequences.
In this chapter, God is referred to as “the LORD your God” (YHWH Eloheikhem), emphasizing His covenant relationship with His people. The name YHWH reveals Him as the eternal, covenant-keeping God, while Elohim highlights His supreme authority. The lesson here is that God desires His people to trust Him fully, not just seek His word with divided hearts. He reminds us that obedience to His voice brings security, while rebellion brings destruction.
Jeremiah 43
In chapter 43, God’s character is revealed as sovereign and unchanging in His purposes. Despite the people’s rejection of His word, God demonstrates that His plans will still come to pass. He shows that no human rebellion can overthrow His authority or prevent His will from being accomplished. His character reflects both His sovereignty and His faithfulness to fulfill what He has spoken.
Here, God is called “the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel” (YHWH Tzevaot Elohei Yisrael). The title “LORD of hosts” portrays Him as the commander of heaven’s armies, unstoppable in power and authority. The lesson from this chapter is that trusting in human refuge—like Egypt—will always fail when it stands in opposition to God’s will. God calls His people to recognize that safety is found in Him alone, not in earthly strongholds.
Jeremiah 44
In Jeremiah 44, God is revealed as righteous and jealous for His people’s worship. Even after repeated warnings and past judgments, He confronts their persistent idolatry with truth. His character shows His holiness in not tolerating false gods, His justice in responding to rebellion, and His faithfulness in holding His people accountable to the covenant they broke.
This chapter again uses the title “the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel” (YHWH Tzevaot Elohei Yisrael), reinforcing His supreme authority over all nations and His covenant identity with Israel. The lesson He teaches here is that idolatry blinds people and hardens their hearts, but God’s word remains true regardless of human denial. He shows us that rejecting Him for substitutes only leads to destruction, but He still seeks to call His people back to Himself.
Christ in Every Book of the Bible
Christ is the theme throughout the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals His Son, Jesus Christ.
Christ is the Seed of the woman Genesis 3:14 , He is the Passover Lamb Exodus 12:3, The Atoning Sacrifice Leviticus 17:11, The Smitten Rock Numbers 20:8, 11, The Faithful Prophet Deuteronomy 18:18, Christ is the Captain of the Lord's Host Joshua 5:15, The Divine Deliverer Judges 2:18, The Kinsman Redeemer Ruth 3:12, Christ is the anticipated as the Anointed One,1 Samuel 2:10, The Son of David 2 Samuel 7:14, The Coming King 1 & 2 Kings, Builder of the Temple 1 & 2 Chronicles (1 Chronicles 28:20), Ezra represents Christ as the Restorer of the Nation Ezra 6:14, 15, Nehemiah shows Him as the Restorer of the Temple Nehemiah 6:15, and Esther portrays Him as the Preserver of the Nation Ester 4:14, Christ is seen as the Living Redeemer Job 19:25, The Praise of Israel Psalm 150:6, The Wisdom of God Proverbs 8:22, 23, The Great Teacher Ecclesiastics 12:11, The Fairest of Ten Thousand Song of Solomon 5:10. Christ is the Suffering Servant Isaiah 53:11, The Maker of the New Covenant Jeremiah 31:31, The Man of Sorrows Lamentations 3:28-30, The Glory of God Ezekiel 43:2, The coming Messiah Daniel 9:25, The Lover of the Unfaithful Hosea 3:1, The Hope of Israel Joel 3:16, The Husbandman Amos 9:13, the Savior Obadiah 21, the Resurrected One Jonah 2:10, the Ruler in Israel Micah 5:2, the Avenger Nahum 2:1, the Holy God Habakkuk 1:13, the King of Israel Zephaniah 3:15, the Desire of Nations Haggai 2:7, the Righteous Branch Zechariah 3:8, and the Sun of Righteousness Malachi 4:2.
The King of the Jews Matthew 2:2, the Servant of the Lord Mark 10:45, the Son of Man Luke 19:10, and the Son of God John 1:1. Christ is the Ascended Lord Acts 1:10, the believer's Righteousness Romans 1:17, Sanctification 1 Corinthians 1:30, Sufficiency 2 Corinthians 12:9, and Liberty Galatians 2:4. He is the Exalted Head of the church Ephesians 1:22, the Christian's Joy Philippians 1:26, and the Fullness of Deity Colossians 2:9. In the Thessalonian epistles Christ is the believer's Comfort 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17 and Glory 2 Thessalonians 1:12. The Christian's Preserver 1 Timothy 4:10, Rewarder 2 Timothy 4:8, Blessed Hope Titus 2:13, and Substitute Philemon 17. He is the High Priest Hebrews 4:15, the Giver of Wisdom James 1:5, the Rock 1 Peter 2:6, and Precious Promise 2 Peter 1:4. John represents Christ as the Life 1 John, the Truth 2 John, and the Way 3 John, Jude portrays Christ as the Advocate and Revelation shows Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords Revelation 19:16. The whole Bible is literally all about Christ!
Questions:
Let's expand how these chapters expanded your faith and your relationship with God.
Questions About God's Character: What do these chapters reveal about God’s faithfulness to His word and promises?
In Jeremiah 42, how does God reveal His willingness to guide His people when they genuinely seek His direction?
What does God’s promise of safety in the land of Judah (Jeremiah 42:10–12) reveal about His protective and compassionate nature?
How does God’s stern warning against going to Egypt show His holiness and His intolerance of disobedience?
In Jeremiah 43, how does God demonstrate His authority over nations, including Egypt and Babylon?
What does God’s judgment against those who refuse His word (Jeremiah 43:7–13) reveal about His justice?
In Jeremiah 44, how does God’s response to the people’s idolatry demonstrate both His longsuffering patience and His righteous anger?
What do these chapters collectively reveal about God as both a merciful Savior and a consuming Judge?
Questions About Themes:
What role does seeking God’s guidance play in Jeremiah 42, and how is it contrasted with disobedience?
How does the people’s hypocrisy in asking for God’s direction but refusing to obey it serve as a central theme in these chapters?
In Jeremiah 43, what theme of rebellion and distrust emerges when the leaders reject God’s instructions?
How does the prophecy against Egypt highlight God’s sovereignty over all nations?
What recurring theme of idolatry appears in Jeremiah 44, and why is it portrayed as spiritual adultery?
How do these chapters emphasize the connection between obedience and blessing versus rebellion and destruction?
How does the rejection of God’s word in these chapters serve as a broader theme that runs throughout Jeremiah’s ministry?
Reflective Application Questions:
When have you asked God for guidance but struggled to follow through when His answer was difficult?
What steps can you take to ensure that you genuinely seek God’s will with the intention of obeying Him?
In what areas of life are you tempted to “go down to Egypt” (seek worldly security) rather than trust God’s promises?
How do Jeremiah 42–44 challenge you to examine the idols in your life that compete for your devotion to God?
What does God’s sovereignty over nations in Jeremiah 43 teach you about trusting Him with global or personal uncertainties?
How can you guard your heart from the same spiritual stubbornness that led the remnant to reject God’s commands?
What personal decision or situation right now requires you to fully trust and obey God, even if it goes against human reasoning?
These questions can help deepen understanding of the themes of these chapters, while encouraging trust in God's sovereignty, justice, faithfulness, and timing. We hope thoughts to these questions invite you to reflect on your own journeys, grow in faith, and understand more about God's nature.
Reference Guides:
Life Application Study Guide
A Popular Survey of the Old Testament by Norman L. Geisler
The Power of God's Names by Tony Evans
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