What consequences does Jeremiah 42:17 describe for those who disobey God's instructions? Setting of the Passage • After Jerusalem’s fall, a small remnant asks Jeremiah whether they should flee to Egypt. • God answers clearly: stay in the land and trust Him; do not run to Egypt for safety (Jeremiah 42:10–13). • Verse 17 specifies what will happen if they ignore this word. Key Verse “ So all who resolve to go to Egypt to reside there will die by the sword, famine, and plague. They will have no remnant or survivor from the disaster I will bring upon them.” (Jeremiah 42:17) Observed Consequences If the remnant disobeys and relocates to Egypt, three specific judgments await: 1. Sword – military violence will overtake them. 2. Famine – lack of food will afflict them. 3. Plague – disease will finish what the sword and famine leave behind. • The cumulative effect: “no remnant or survivor.” Disobedience cancels the protection God had offered (Jeremiah 42:10–12). Wider Biblical Echoes • Deuteronomy 28:22, 26 speaks of sword, famine, and pestilence as covenant curses for rebellion. • Leviticus 26:14–33 parallels the same trio of judgments. • In contrast, Psalm 91 promises deliverance from “the deadly pestilence” for those who dwell in the shelter of the Most High—underscoring the blessing of obedience. • Proverbs 14:12 warns, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Choosing Egypt looked sensible yet led straight into judgment. Takeaway for Today • God’s commands are protective. Ignoring them exposes us to harm He longs to spare us from. • Disobedience forfeits the security found in trusting His word, while obedience—even when risky—positions us for His faithful care (Isaiah 26:3). |
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