Jeremiah 29

 The second half of Jeremiah 29 continues the picture of what will come to the rebellious people.  It really comes down to this: “they wouldn’t listen to a word I said”.  Are you listening to God?  Do you know how to hear Him?  Sometimes the chaos and clamor of life make it very difficult to really understand what God is trying to tell me.  Or the busyness and continual activity prevent me from even trying.  But God is clear in scripture that we need to “be still and know”.  I am really not good at that.  My life has to have something happening – a radio playing, someone to talk with, something to do….I just really struggle to be still.  Am I weird?  I know some think so, but let me rephrase that – should I be able to listen to God more easily – to really be quiet and still and hear Him? 

 

Obviously Shemaiah wasn’t listening to God.  He manufactured some stuff and claimed to carry a message from God, but it was his own words.  He told the people that thigns would be all right, that there was nothing to worry about.  But God passes His verdict on Him, much like He did Hananiah in the last chapter.  In this case the verdict is to “punish Shemaiah and his whole family”.  That is the real fear of failing to listen to God.  We can bring issues not only on ourselves, but those we love and care for too.  We impact others by our decisions.  How we live matters.  In this case “no one from his family will be around to see any of the good”.  They are going to be gone because of his preaching rebellion against God.  So sad for him but even worse for his family.  We need to pay attention to God.  We need to learn to listen and hear.  It makes a difference!