TEXT FOR REFLECTION
Be sure of this: I warn you today that you made a fatal mistake when you sent me to the Lord your God and said, ‘Pray to the Lord our God for us; tell us everything he says and we will do it.' I have told you today, but you still have not obeyed the Lord your God in all he sent me to tell you. JEREMIAH 42:19-21
REFLECT
The leaders of the Jewish remnants had approached Jeremiah to request him to inquire of the Lord what their future was to be and what they should do. They had just assassinated the puppet king that Babylon had installed and knew that they would have to face Babylon's wrath, and now they wanted to know from Jeremiah whether they should flee to Egypt or remain where they were and allow themselves to be taken into exile in Babylon. They told Jeremiah earnestly that they really wanted to know and would obey whatever the Lord told them, whether favourable or not.
Ten days later, Jeremiah heard from the Lord and returned to them. He told them that if they remained in Judah and allowed the Babylonian king to capture them, God would protect them as He would have mercy on them. If on the other hand they escaped to Egypt, they would be hunted down and be killed.
This news was very hard to accept. It appeared foolish to remain where they were instead of fleeing to Egypt which at that time was still free from Babylonian domination. The Jewish leaders then accused Jeremiah of being pro-Babylon, and of lying to them so that the Babylonian king could capture and destroy them.
The Jewish leaders decided not to listen to what God had told Jeremiah.
RELATE
One of the most reassuring lessons this passage teaches us is that God is very accessible. He will give wisdom when His people ask for wisdom. This lesson is repeated in the New Testament in the book of James where James writes, " If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." (James 1:5). James testifies that God will generously give wisdom when we ask. The Jewish leaders in Jeremiah's time were in a quandary and sincerely wanted to know what God knew. So they sought God's wisdom. God replied them ten days later through His prophet Jeremiah. I too have over the years, discovered that this is true, that God is ever ready to guide when we ask.
The problem is that much of the time, God's answers to our queries appears counter-intuitive. Sometimes they seem plain foolish. Just like Jeremiah's answer to the Jewish leaders. Jeremiah's answer to the leaders' question was that they should remain in Judah and place themselves at the mercy of the Babylonian king. This answer was tantamount to saying, "Just be sitting ducks. Let the Babylonian king kill you where you are." Commonsense dictated that the Jews should flee to a more powerful country which could protect them.
Having counseled many over a span of 30 years, and having made numerous mistakes, I too am discovering this reality that we are prone to dismissing God's wisdom. What God tells us seems naive, stupid, impractical, and against all commonsense. And we decide to listen to the world's wisdom rather than to God's. The voice of the vast majority, as well as the voices of our wisdom, soon drown out the still, soft voice of God.
We can develop certain habits that will help us pause when seeking God's wisdom.
1) Develop a sense of self doubt. This means to acknowledge that we are often wrong in our decision-making. This habit itself is counterintuitive. We are taught that we should appear decisive and self-confident. Yet one who is honest and humble and wise will acknowledge that we do not have all the answers and that true wisdom often hides among the quiet and the meek.
2) Be prayerful when making decisions. We often make rash decisions that seem to us to be pragmatic and 'smart', without pausing long enough to ask God for wisdom. God is ever ready to guide us when we stop to ask Him.
3) Consider if our decision is consistent with God's nature and character. Do we trust that God is with us? Do we believe that God provides for us when we lack? Do we know that God is just and merciful to the humble?
When we learn to doubt our 'commonsense', and grasp the possibility that the 'foolish' ways of God may be true wisdom, we begin our journey of knowing God's wisdom. "Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”" 1 Corinthians 3:18-19.
REST
I thank you, Lord
For the trials come my way
In that way I can grow each day
As I let you lead
And thank you, Lord
For the patience those trials bring
In that process of growing
I can learn to care.
But it goes against the way I am
To put my human nature down
And let the spirit take control of all I do
‘Cause when those trials come
My human nature shouts the thing to do
And God’s soft prompting can be easily ignored.
But I thank you, Lord
With each trial I feel inside
That you’re there to help lead
and guide me away from wrong
‘Cause you promise, Lord
That with every testing that your way of escaping
Is easier to bear
But it goes against the way I am
To put my human nature down
And let the spirit take control of all I do
‘Cause when those trials come
My human nature shouts the thing to do
And God’s soft prompting can be easily ignored.
Yes! I thank you, Lord,
For the victory that growing brings
In surrender of everything
life is so worthwhile
And I thank you, Lord
That when everything is put in place
Out in front I can see Your face
and it’s there you belong.
From the song I Thank You Lord
Chiu Ming Li
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