May the Lord be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with everything the Lord your God sends you to tell us. (Jeremiah 42:5)
It had happened. Nebuchadnezzar had broken through the walls of Jerusalem and captured the city. He killed Zedekiah's sons and put his eyes out before marching him off to Babylon. He installed Gedaliah as governor over Judah and the people who remained there, but Gedaliah had been assassinated and his killer escaped to Ammon.
Fearing reprisal for the death of this Babylon appointee, a band of people led by Johanon asked Jeremiah for advice. Should they stay? Should they flee to Egypt? With God as our witness we'll do whatever you say. Jeremiah assured them that if they remained in Judah, God would preserve and provide for them.
That wasn't the answer they were looking for. Johanon and his comrades accused Jeremiah of lying to them. God would never say that!
Hey, don't like the prophet's answer? Attack the prophet's character.
Not only did they reject Jeremiah's advice, they forcibly removed him to the city of Tahpanhes in Egypt, where they continued to disregard his counsel.
What do you do when you pray and don't like the answer you get?
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