August 13, 2018
What does it say?
Any Jews determined to live in Egypt and worship their gods would perish there. The people vowed to stay in Egypt, pouring out drink offerings to the Queen of Heaven.
What does it mean?
God had a plan for the good of those He led out of Jerusalem to captivity in Babylon. Any Jews who fled to Egypt for safety would be isolated from God’s people and assimilated into Egyptian culture, which included the worship of their gods. The Lord had been long-suffering with Jerusalem’s disobedience, giving them every opportunity to respond to His warnings. This band of Israelites still didn’t associate the complete desolation of Jerusalem with disobedience to the Lord. They mistook God’s mercy as the blessing of an Egyptian goddess, whom they defiantly chose over the Lord, God of Israel. The people of Judah didn’t misunderstand the message or its origin – they shamelessly rejected it.
How should I respond?
The Bible is controversial because it clearly defines what is ethically and morally right. It provokes those who think that God’s standards are restrictive, intolerant, and irrelevant for society today. As a result, many in our society lack a sense of God’s existence, excluding Him from their thoughts and lives. Believers face daily challenges to remain faithful as society views them as intolerant, bigoted, and ignorant. As a follower of Christ, what can you do to counter popular opinion? How will you include Him in your life today?