To Boldly Go Where We’re Told Not to Go Jeremiah 40:1-6, 42:1-16, 43:1-5

The Bold Decisions of Johanan, the son of Kareah, one of the commander of the forces

2 Kings 25:22-26 22 He [Nebuchadnezzar] appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan as governor over the people who remained in the land of Judah, whom King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had left. 23 Now when all the captains of the forces and their men heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah as governor, they came with their men to Gedaliah at Mizpah, namely, Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah son of the Maacathite. 24 Gedaliah swore to them and their men, saying, “Do not be afraid because of the Chaldean officials; live in the land, serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.”

2 Kings 25:22-26 25 But in the seventh month, Ishmael son of Nethaniah son of Elishama, of the royal family, came with ten men; they struck down Gedaliah so that he died, along with the Judeans and Chaldeans who were with him at Mizpah. 26 Then all the people, high and low, and the captains of the forces set out and went to Egypt; for they were afraid of the Chaldeans.

Making Bold Decisions Boldness #1: Optimism

Jehoiakim to Zedekiah King Jehoiakim King Jehoiachin (Coniah, son of Jehoiakim) King Zedekiah (installed by Nebuchadnezzar) Destruction of Jerusalem and exile (586 BC)

Jeremiah 39:8-10 8 The Chaldeans also burned with fire the king’s palace and the houses of the people, and they broke down the walls of Jerusalem. 9 As for the rest of the people who were left in the city, the adeserters who had gone over to him and the rest of the people who remained, Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard carried them into exile in Babylon. 10 But some of the poorest people who had nothing, Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard left behind in the land of Judah, and gave them vineyards and fields at that time.

Jeremiah 40:9-12 9 Then Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, swore to them and to their men, saying, “Do not be afraid of serving the Chaldeans; stay in the land and serve the king of Babylon, that it may go well with you. 10 “Now as for me, behold, I am going to stay at Mizpah to stand for you before the Chaldeans who come to us; but as for you, gather in wine and summer fruit and oil and put them in your storage vessels, and live in your cities that you have taken over.” 12 Then all the Jews returned from all the places to which they had been driven away and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah, and gathered in wine and summer fruit in great abundance.

Jeremiah 40:13-16 13 Now Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces that were in the field came to Gedaliah at Mizpah and said to him, “Are you well aware that Baalis the king of the sons of Ammon has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam did not believe them. 15 Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke secretly to Gedaliah in Mizpah, saying, “Let me go and kill Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and not a man will know! Why should he take your life, so that all the Jews who are gathered to you would be scattered and the remnant of Judah would perish?” 16 But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah, “Do not do this thing, for you are telling a lie about Ishmael.”

Making Bold Decisions Boldness #1: Optimism Doing whatever it takes to keep the good times going Boldness #2: Disappointment and Fear

Jeremiah 41:11-14 11 But Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces that were with him heard of all the evil that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had done. 12 So they took all the men and went to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and they found him by the great pool that is in Gibeon. 13 Now as soon as all the people who were with Ishmael saw Johanan the son of Kareah and the commanders of the forces that were with him, they were glad. 14 So all the people whom Ishmael had taken captive from Mizpah turned around and came back, and went to Johanan the son of Kareah.

Jeremiah 41:17-18 17 And they went and stayed in Geruth Chimham, which is beside Bethlehem, in order to proceed into Egypt 18 because of the Chaldeans; for they were afraid of them, since Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had struck down Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon had appointed over the land.

Jeremiah 44:16-17 16 “As for the message that you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we are not going to listen to you! 17 “But rather we will certainly carry out every word that has proceeded from our mouths, by burning sacrifices to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, just as we ourselves, our forefathers, our kings and our princes did in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; for then we had plenty of food and were well off and saw no misfortune.

Making Bold Decisions Boldness #1: Optimism Doing whatever it takes to keep the good times going Boldness #2: Disappointment and Fear Deceiving yourself in choosing only the easy way out Boldness #3: Arrogance

The Comparison of Remnants The Remnant in Judah The Remnant exiled in Babylon The True Remnant were not the arrogant ones.

Making Bold Decisions Boldness #1: Optimism Doing whatever it takes to keep the good times going Boldness #2: Disappointment and Fear Deceiving yourself in choosing only the easy way out Boldness #3: Arrogance Rejecting the counsel of God and setting off on your own

One Theme Throughout Jeremiah 29:7 ‘Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare.’

Making Bold Decisions Boldness #1: Optimism Doing whatever it takes to keep the good times going Boldness #2: Disappointment and Fear Deceiving yourself in choosing only the easy way out Boldness #3: Arrogance Rejecting the counsel of God and setting off on your own

Making Bold Decisions Boldness #4: Courage To follow God where He leads To proclaim the Kingdom of God To live as the people of God