Jeremiah 43:1-7
When the human heart is determined toward self-preservation rather than obedience, even the clear word of God is rejected.
1 When Jeremiah had finished speaking to all the people all the words of Yahweh their God, with which Yahweh their God had sent him to them, even all these words,
2 then Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men spoke, saying to Jeremiah, “You speak falsely. Yahweh our God has not sent you to say, ‘You shall not go into Egypt to live there;’
3 but Baruch the son of Neriah has turned you against us, to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they may put us to death, and carry us away captive to Babylon.”
4 So Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, and all the people, didn’t obey Yahweh’s voice, to dwell in the land of Judah.
5 But Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, took all the remnant of Judah, who had returned from all the nations where they had been driven, to live in the land of Judah;
6 the men, and the women, and the children, and the king’s daughters, and every person who Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan; and Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch the son of Neriah;
7 and they came into the land of Egypt; for they didn’t obey Yahweh’s voice: and they came to Tahpanhes.
When the human heart is determined toward self-preservation rather than obedience, even the clear word of God is rejected.
To record the remnant’s rejection of the LORD’s command and their forced migration to Egypt after accusing Jeremiah of speaking falsely.
This passage records the remnant’s rejection of Jeremiah’s message and their decision to flee to Egypt. It fulfills the tension established in the previous chapter where the people promised obedience but were warned about the consequences of disobedience.
The remnant leaders reject Jeremiah's warning and force a migration to Egypt despite God's command.
The Flight to Egypt: Rebellion After a Clear Word
When God's people reject a clear word in order to secure themselves, the refuge they choose becomes the place where the word they rejected confronts them.