Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Maybe slavery isn’t so bad. Indeed it is the best option going IF it is on the LORD’S schedule for His people. Slavery to the Babylonians in Babylon itself proves to be much safer and more prosperous choice than fighting it in favor of choosing the appearance of independence. The general lesson to draw is that being where the Sovereign LORD wants you to be is much much better than anywhere else—period!

This is a tough read—about like trying to read unfolding events of our present nation and world. It’s not easy to get the story right and sort out who’s who and what’s what—discerning the TRUTH and determining who are the good guys and who are the bad guys. It’s difficult, even with our modern resources of instant satellite communications that spew a flood of news and information. The problem today is really not much different than the problem back then—where power and control along with news and information are mainly handled by people afflicted with a NATURAL SIN NATURE. If they lean to their own understanding, and their own schemes and strategies, that’s all they have—they’re entirely on their own—which is a formula for ultimate failure. A HEART AFTER GOD made all the difference back then—and it will make all the difference for us today.

At first appearance it seemed that Johanan was a good guy. After all, he was the one who tried to warn Gedaliah (appointed by Babylon to serve as Governor over the Jews remaining in Judah) of the fact that he had a conspiring terrorist in his midst who secretly wanted to assassinate him. Sure enough—things played out exactly as Johanan had warned. So he had to be good guy, right? Not really—not in relationship with the One that matters. But, so what else is new?—all humanly good guys who appear so strong and smart will ultimately demonstrate their weakness and foolishness at the most critical points. He failed to consider this question: How can any humanly good guy hope to successfully oppose the Eternal Holy One?—the One Who knows everything about everything?—the One Who made the very life this person is bent on mishandling.

Johanan joined in what appeared to be a serious commitment to seek the LORD and follow His leading. They gathered before Jeremiah and made their request—“Pray that the LORD your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do” (42:3). They promised to obey the LORD up one side and down the other. But when Jeremiah delivered the word of the LORD to the effect that they should settle down and stay where they are and not run off to the appearance of protection in Egypt, they didn’t like it one bit. “…Johanan son of Kareah and all the arrogant men said to Jeremiah, ‘You are lying! The LORD our God has not sent you to say, “You must not go to Egypt to settle there”’” (43:2). So they bowed their necks and went to Egypt anyway—and paid dearly for it. So much for seeking the LORD—with a half heart. The never works out right.