And I will shew mercies unto you, that he may have mercy upon you, and cause you to return to your own land.
God's merciful promise came through Jeremiah to the Jews left in the land after Zedekiah's captivity. If they remained in the land they would receive every necessary protection under the king of Babylon so long as they heeded the voice of Jeremiah, whom the king had learned to highly esteem. If the remnant obeyed God and abandoned its plan to go to Egypt, God would show it mercy, protect it from the king of Babylon, and bring it back to its own land.
The promise answered the people's fear of Babylon and offered protection and blessing in place of the safety they expected to find in Egypt. It was blessing for remaining in the land, including showing them mercy and causing them to return to their own land. God's mercy would thus lead to the remnant's return to their land.
The people to whom it was given had already resolved to go to Egypt and had become unable to discern between right and wrong. They came to Jeremiah for advice insincerely, desiring only advice in harmony with their own wishes and purposes, seeking God's direction only to gain approval for their plan rather than to learn and obey His will. Their promises were nothing, and their words to God were not matched by their hearts, even as the discernment of the Spirit of God laid bare the secrets of their hearts.
Instead of taking the advice to remain, they chose to go down into Egypt. They went to Egypt against God's direction through Jeremiah despite having sought His guidance, blamed Baruch for the prophet's message, and their disobedience brought punishment and destruction. The story therefore warns against praying and seeking guidance without a sincere intent to obey.
God's merciful promise came through Jeremiah to the Jews left in the land after Zedekiah's captivity. If they remained in the land they would receive every necessary protection under the king of Babylon so long as they heeded the voice of Jeremiah, whom the king had learned to highly esteem. If the remnant obeyed God and abandoned its plan to go to Egypt, God would show it mercy, protect it from the king of Babylon, and bring it back to its own land.
The promise answered the people's fear of Babylon and offered protection and blessing in place of the safety they expected to find in Egypt. It was blessing for remaining in the land, including showing them mercy and causing them to return to their own land. God's mercy would thus lead to the remnant's return to their land.
The people to whom it was given had already resolved to go to Egypt and had become unable to discern between right and wrong. They came to Jeremiah for advice insincerely, desiring only advice in harmony with their own wishes and purposes, seeking God's direction only to gain approval for their plan rather than to learn and obey His will. Their promises were nothing, and their words to God were not matched by their hearts, even as the discernment of the Spirit of God laid bare the secrets of their hearts.
Instead of taking the advice to remain, they chose to go down into Egypt. They went to Egypt against God's direction through Jeremiah despite having sought His guidance, blamed Baruch for the prophet's message, and their disobedience brought punishment and destruction. The story therefore warns against praying and seeking guidance without a sincere intent to obey.