A Fatal Mistake

Jeremiah 42:19-20  "O remnant of Judah, the LORD has told you, 'Do not go to Egypt.' Be sure of this: I warn you today
20  that you made a fatal mistake when you sent me to the LORD your God and said, 'Pray to the LORD our God for us; tell us everything he says and we will do it.'

Why was it a fatal mistake for this remnant of Judah to have asked Jeremiah to pray for God’s will for them?

It’s easy to pray for God’s will.  It’s another thing to sincerely, truthfully, approach God with the desire to follow His will.  God doesn’t just honor the fact that we pray.  What He honors more is the desire of our hearts to know and obey His will.

The remnants of Judah who stayed after the Babylonians had destroyed Jerusalem asked Jeremiah to pray for them, what God’s plans for them were.

Jeremiah 42:1-3  Then all the army officers, including Johanan son of Kareah and Jezaniah son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least to the greatest approached Jeremiah the prophet and said to him, "Please hear our petition and pray to the LORD your God for this entire remnant. For as you now see, though we were once many, now only a few are left. 3  Pray that the LORD your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do.

It sounded sincere, right?  They even assured Jeremiah of their intent to obey. 

Jeremiah 42:5-6  Then they said to Jeremiah, "May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with everything the LORD your God sends you to tell us.  Whether it is favorable or unfavorable, we will obey the LORD our God, to whom we are sending you, so that it will go well with us, for we will obey the LORD our God."

They “promised” that they would act in accordance to whatever the Lord told them, whether it was favorable or unfavorable.  In words they sounded right, sincere, willing to follow the Lord.  If you think about it this is the right approach, the right attitude of heart, when coming to the Lord seeking His will – we will act in accordance to what the Lord reveals, whether it is favorable or unfavorable for us.  It is the Lord’s will that counts, that matters, not what we feel is good for us – right?

Well, as they say, “the proof of the pudding is in the eating”.  Did they really mean what they said?

Jeremiah 43:1-2  When Jeremiah finished telling the people all the words of the LORD their God--everything the LORD had sent him to tell them--
2  Azariah son of Hoshaiah and 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.'

What Jeremiah revealed to them as God’s will was very unfavorable for them.  And because it was unfavorable, they automatically concluded that Jeremiah’s words were not God’s will.  So, they were not sincere after all.  They did not really mean it when they said they would act in accordance to what the Lord says, whether it be favorable or not.  This was their grave mistake – they came to the Lord with a deceitful heart.

Do we make the same mistake today when praying for God’s will?

Do we cry out to the Lord for His will for our lives, and yet have already made up our minds as to what or how we want Him to answer?

Are we coming to God with truly sincere hearts, with the utmost desire to obey the Lord according to what He reveals to us today in Scripture?  And are we willing to obey the Lord’s will whether it is favorable or unfavorable to us?

Many of our prayers are actually requests of God favoring what we want, rather than really coming to the Lord with a desire to know what His will is.  Many today look at God as someone we can “bribe” – through our prayers, offerings or service – so that He will answer our prayers, or bless us, with what is favorable for us.

God is God.  He is Sovereign.  He is King.  He is Lord.  He is the One to be obeyed.  He is the One we submit to.  Not the other way around.

Let’s make sure we do not commit the same fatal mistake as the remnants of Judah did with Jeremiah.  When we come to the Lord seeking His will let us come with a heart that is truly ready to obey His will, what is favorable to God.  And when God’s will revealed seems unfavorable to us, let us bow before our Master, our holy and righteous God, with complete trust, that His will, His wisdom, is also holy and right.  We need to die to our emotions, our dreams, our desires, and live according to how God desires.

2 Corinthians 5:15  And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

Like Zacchaeus

Luke 19:106  Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2  A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3  He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. 4  So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5  When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." 6  So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

Zacchaeus is one of the favorite children’s story that you hear in Sunday School.  And usually the lesson they teach is that we must be like Zacchaeus, who climbed a tree to see Jesus, who made that extra effort to seek the Lord.  So, we, too, are to climb our trees and do our best to seek Jesus.

But is this what happened?  Was it Zacchaeus’ effort that brought his new relationship with the Lord, or was it the Lord’s working?  Let’s take a look at his story.

2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.

Zacchaeus was corrupt.  And because of his corruption he was wealthy.  He is an example of many people today – people who are corrupt, rich and do not need God.  There is no indication in the story that Zacchaeus was someone who felt that he needed the Lord.  Usually people who are corrupt and rich do not feel they need the Lord.  They may have religion, but they do not need the Lord.

3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd

Zaccheaus was not seeking the Lord, he just wanted to see who Jesus was.  This was simple curiosity at the most.  All he wanted to do was to have a glimpse of this “new kid in town” who was making waves in their society at that time.

Why did he climb the tree?  So he could cry out to the Lord?  No.  He was short, and so couldn’t see through the crowd.  There was no desire at all to call upon the Lord, or for the Lord to take notice of him.  He just wanted to see who this Jesus was.  It was out of curiosity, not out of spiritual need.  But the Lord turned a simple curious moment into an encounter with Him.  In fact, I believe this was God’s appointment with Zaccheaus.  What was simple curiosity for Zacchaeus was actually God setting an appointment.

Even if Zacchaeus was not after the Lord, it turns out the Lord was after him.  Those “curious” moments in your life, when you’re wondering about the Lord and His teachings and what He can do in your life – those are actually God’s appointments with us, and He uses them to call us to Him. 

5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today."

When Jesus reached the spot He looked up…was this coincidence?  No, it wasn’t.  For we see that when Jesus looked up He called Zacchaeus by name!

He knew Zacchaeus, just as He knows us.  He knew Zaccheus by name.  He wasn’t “creation X”, or exhibit A.  God knew who he was.  He knew he would be on top of the tree.  And God had plans for him, which is why He called him.

He knew who Zacchaeus was – a rich, corrupt tax collector.  And yet He called him.  That call did not mean He was condoning the sins of Zacchaeus.  Jesus’ call to sinners is a Savior’s call, a holy God’s gracious hand reaching out to bring us to a new life, His life.

Zaccheaus responded.  It is hard to turn away from God’s invitation.  Sadly some do.  But there are those who respond to His grace, just like Zacchaeus.

6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

Not only did he welcome Jesus, but the presence of the Lord brought a change in his heart!

Luke 19:8  But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."

Zacchaeus wasn’t looking for Jesus, but Jesus was looking for him.  When Zacchaeus realized it he welcomed Jesus, and allowed Him to bring a change to his life. 

Repentance from sin is not us trying to change our lives so that we can come to the Lord.  Repentance is a response to the grace and love that God shows us through Jesus Christ.  When we realize it is God calling us, bringing us to a new life, then our hearts begin to long for the change God desires.

When Zacchaeus realized that the Messiah actually called him by name, despite of who he was, and wanted to enter his house, this was what brought the change in his heart. 

Many of us can relate with Zaccheaus.  I know I can.  I wasn’t looking for the Lord, and yet He came after me.  And I’ve been thankful for His grace ever since.  I don’t know where I would be now if not for His grace in reaching out to me.

Some of us reading this may be exactly at that moment.  You’ve been curious about what Jesus has done, has been doing, in the lives of people you know.  You’re climbing up a tree.  When you hear Christ call you, come down and welcome Him into your home.  It’s His divine appointment.  You will not regret it.  Be like Zacchaeus.