Prayer: Father, You can speak through anyone. Help me to listen and discern Your voice when it comes to me from the unlikeliest sources. Amen.
Reading: Jeremaih 40 key: vs. 2-6 “Now the captain of the guard had taken Jeremiah and said to him: “Adonai your God pronounced this evil against this place, and Adonai brought it about and did just as He said. Because you have sinned against Adonai and have not listened to His voice, this thing has happened to you. But now behold, I am freeing you this day from the chains that are on your hand. If it is good in your eyes to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will look after you. But if it is evil in your eyes to come with me to Babylon, stop. Look, the whole land is before you—wherever it seems good and right to you to go, there go.” But he would not turn back. “Go back then to Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people; or go anywhere it seems right in your eyes to go.” Then the captain of the guard gave him a ration and a gift, and let him go.” TLV
Attention: The confirmation of the word of God (Adonai) came to Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan the “captain of the guard.” The text seems to relay that somewhere near Ramah Jeremiah was released. “The Babylonians apparently used Ramah as a prisoner of war camp from which captives of Jerusalem were processed and sent into Babylonian exile (Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary pg. 1363).” It was here that Nebuzaradan released Jeremiah. However, before he released him, he gave Jeremiah a choice and confirmed that it was “Adonai your God (who) pronounced this evil against this place, and Adonai brought it about and did just as He said.”
Just last night, I was asked to take a man home from a men’s gathering. I had met the man a week earlier in the same gathering. We shared background information with each other in getting acquainted. He told me of a recent experience through a client showing him an AI dictation ability and how AI could create a story out of basic information. He shared his amazement at the AI’s ability to make a story from his story line.
My wife and I had just been researching options for dictating her story into a printed version. My new acquaintance knew nothing of our need, yet this is what proceeded from his mouth.
I believe in serendipities, what I call God planned appointments. Jeremiah had an Adonai planned appointment with the Captain of the Guards to release him. What did Jeremiah choose to do? He stayed with the poor who were left behind. When the Babylonians took Israel captive, they did not take everyone. They only took the brightest and best, the fittest and most capable. They did not take those who would be a burden to the system.
We are told in the text, that the king of Babylon “appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam over the land, and had put him in charge of the men, and women and children, the poorest of the land who were not carried away captive to Babylon (vs.7).” The name Gedaliah means, “Yahweh has done great things.” Imagine that. Jeremiah and the poorest of Israel were left in the hands of a man whose name means, “Yahweh has done great things.” In the darkest time of their lives, Yahweh shows himself faithful in caring for those left behind.
Action: I choose today to watch for the God planned appointments and ways God shows Himself faithful.
Yield: I choose to live for the God who does great things for His people.
Engage: I choose to engage with the Holy Spirit in living for Yahweh.
Relationship: I choose to live in relationship with the Supreme Adonai.
Prayer: Father, thank You for the example of Jeremiah who chose to stay with the poor and was entrusted into the hands of a man whose name means, “Yahweh has done great things.” Gedaliah was representative of God’s presence and providence. Amen.
Memory Verse: Psalm 126:3 “Adonai has done great things for us —we are joyful!” TLV
Music Video: Andre’ Crouch—Bless His Holy Name https://youtu.be/_z2JOZ9h8MU?si=NYECgXK3GGqRxdX9
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”