The passage

1Then all the army officers, including Johanan son of Kareah and Jezaniah son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least to the greatest approached 2Jeremiah the prophet and said to him, “Please hear our petition and pray to the Lord your God for this entire remnant. For as you now see, though we were once many, now only a few are left. 3Pray that the Lord your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do.”

Also referenced today

The shape of the message

1. A fearful promise that evaporates once the danger passes
2. A spiritual-sounding request that hides a settled plan
3. Jeremiah’s plain speaking versus itching-ear religion
4. Waiting for God’s word, then delivering it without softening
5. Egypt as the “safer” alternative and the self-justifications behind it
6. Hearing without doing, and the consequences of refusing to obey

Questions to hold while you listen

• Where do you see the difference between seeking God’s direction and seeking God’s approval for a decision you’ve already made?
• What are some ways you personally justify disobedience as “wisdom,” “strategy,” or “practicality,” and what would surrender look like instead?
• Why is it dangerous to go from counselor to counselor looking for someone who will agree with a hidden agenda?
• What does it look like in everyday life to “take heed how ye hear” (Luke 8:18) rather than assuming hearing equals obeying?
• In what area are you tempted to run toward an “Egypt” that feels safer, even though you already know what obedience requires?

Notes

This week

Take one thing you already know God has said—through Scripture or a clear conviction—and enact it in a concrete way rather than continuing to journal or think about it. Watch for moments when you’re tempted to ask for “guidance” as a way of resisting the answer you already know.