I’m Not Listening!
Spencer Clark
Stashed towards the end of Jeremiah is a lesser-known episode in the history of Israel. A group of Judean men fled Babylonian rule, taking Jeremiah with them and sought refuge in Egypt despite God’s warnings against this very thing. God tasked Jeremiah to speak to the people of Israel. Here is how they answered:
“As for the word that you have spoken to use in the name of the Lord, we will not listen to you!” (Jer. 44:16 NKJV).
Why did these men refuse to listen to God? First, they tolerated the religious practices of their family. They knew their wives were worshipping other gods and even considered it honorable to keep these vows (44:15, 17). But nothing, including pleasing our family and keeping everyone happy, is worth our soul. Jesus taught that His true family are those who do the will of God (Mark 3:31-35). That is not to imply that we should neglect our families (John 19:26; 1 Tim. 5:8), but that our standing with God supersedes our familial bonds.
Secondly, the men of Judah rejected God’s words by appealing to personal experience. They insist on doing whatever they want because their forefathers and kings did it (true) and they were prosperous and had no difficulties” (false). They believed problems arose when they stopped worshipping the so-called “queen of heaven” (44:17-18). In other words, “we’ve always done it this way, it works for us, nothing bad happens, and so we will not listen to God.” This kind of foolish pragmatism, unfortunately common in American society, is dangerous and prideful. Many have assumed they will not be held accountable for sin in their life, even challenging the existence of God himself. But God promises in no uncertain terms that there will be eternal consequences and punishment for those who persist in sin (Isa. 13:11; Prov. 16:5, 18; Psa. 10).
Our families and experiences in life are significant to our formation as people. However, I hope that neither family pressure nor worldly wisdom will come between you and His eternal word. These men of Judah succumbed to both of these and it did not fare well for them