Jeremiah 44 Devotional
by Pastor Mark Hudson

You have been reading 43 chapters of Jeremiah. In chapter 44, you might think that the people of Israel will, after seeing the destruction of Jerusalem, the deportations of the Jews to Babylon, and the murder of Gedaliah figure out that what God had warned through Jeremiah was actually coming true. They could see and they were experiencing God’s judgment. Furthermore, you might think now, after all these years, after multiple and consistent warnings from Jeremiah, and experiencing exactly what Jeremiah said would happen that they would repent. But you would be so wrong.

It would be hard to find a more defiant response to God’s word than this. But then, if you have read the Bible from cover to cover, you will respond with people plugging their ears (Acts 7:57), people rejecting Him who warns from heaven (Heb 12:25), leaders in Israel saying that Jesus has a demon and is insane so why listen to him (John 10:20), and finally people asking for God’s judgment to fall on them and their children for Christ’s death (Mt. 27:25). So maybe you are right. While this may not be the worst case of not listening, it is one of the most blatant, obdurate, and hard-hearted responses.

In Jeremiah 44:1-6, God explains what has happened to them and why. Now in vs. 7-10, God pleads with them to repent. He asks them why they continue to sin. Have they forgotten their sad past rebellion that brought them this evil?

Then in vs. 11-14, God says that those fleeing to Egypt will be punished. “I will punish those who dwell in the land of Egypt, as I have punished Jerusalem, with the sword, with famine, and with pestilence.” So, do you think these Jews might cry uncle? Maybe consider a different response to God?

Oh, no. They double down in their rebellion. In 15-18, the husbands support the false worship their wives have been engaged in. In fact, they are saying to Jeremiah that they won’t listen (v. 16) and they will continue to worship the queen of heaven (v. 17) because it was better for them to worship the queen of heaven (v. 16-18). In verse 19, the wives say, our husbands knew all along and they approved. We were not hiding anything from them this entire time.

God’s response is clear and swift but unheeded. “27 Behold, I am watching over them for disaster and not for good. All the men of Judah who are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by famine, until there is an end of them.”

I suppose it doesn’t do much good to get indignant about something that happened so long ago. But don’t you have to wonder: have I ever been like that? Do I ever refuse to listen to God’s Word? What is my excuse? Why do I stay in a relationship that is bad? Why do I go to places I shouldn’t? Why do I see, read, or watch things that I know are wrong? Why do I nurse bad attitudes, hold grudges, or feed my anger, pride, or jealousy?

Is my sin less blatant? Am I less deceptive? With what I know, do I have less excuse for my sin? Keep throwing yourself on Christ. Keep telling your heart and mind to believe and rely on His grace to keep you from sin.

We need all the grace we can. Yes, read the Bible, pray, discipline yourself. But don’t neglect the means of grace God provides: the worship of God’s people, fellowship, the sacrament of the Lord’s supper, and constant, constant prayer. Don’t be passive but seek Christ. You eternal soul depends on the grace of Christ. You must believe that Christ died in your place. You must place your faith on Him and Him alone for your eternal salvation. And you must lay hold of his free grace.