Jeremiah 44:26-30: a reflection

26“Therefore hear the LORD’s word, all Judah who dwell in the land of Egypt: ‘Behold, I have sworn by my great name,’ says the LORD, ‘that my name will no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, “As the Lord GOD lives.” 27Behold, I watch over them for evil, and not for good; and all the men of Judah who are in the land of Egypt will be consumed by the sword and by the famine, until they are all gone. 28Those who escape the sword will return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Judah few in number. All the remnant of Judah, who have gone into the land of Egypt to live there, will know whose word will stand, mine or theirs. 29“‘This will be the sign to you,’ says the LORD, ‘that I will punish you in this place, that you may know that my words will surely stand against you for evil.’ 30The LORD says, ‘Behold, I will give Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies and into the hand of those who seek his life, just as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, who was his enemy and sought his life.’”

God brings a final word to the remnant of Judah who had fled to Egypt against his command. They had set their own will against his, insisting on their own way; and God declares that the matter will be settled: All the remnant of Judah who have gone to Egypt will know whose word will stand, mine or theirs. The people had their word, their plan, their confidence in Egypt; God had his word. And the outcome would show whose word prevails.

Notice how the conflict is framed: whose word will stand, mine or theirs. The people had set their own judgment against God's clear word, choosing to go to Egypt though he had told them not to. It had become a contest between their word and his; and God declares that his word will stand. Whatever people decide, however confident they are in their own plans, God's word prevails; it is his word, not ours, that finally stands.

That is a truth to reckon with in our own lives. We can set our own will, our own plans, our own judgment against what God has said, confident that our way is right; but it remains a contest we cannot win. God's word stands; ours does not, when it is set against his. The wise course is not to pit our word against God's, but to submit our plans and judgments to his word, aligning ourselves with what will surely stand. When you are tempted to set your own way against what God has said, remember whose word finally stands. Do not stake yourself against God's word, which will prevail; submit to it, and build your life on the word that stands, rather than on your own, which cannot stand against his.

Lord, to the remnant who had set their own will against your clear word, you declared that they would learn whose word would stand, yours or theirs. Help me reckon with that truth. I can set my own will, my own plans, my own judgment against what you have said, confident that my way is right; but it remains a contest I cannot win. Your word stands; mine does not, when it is set against yours. Keep me from pitting my word against yours. Help me submit my plans and judgments to your word, aligning myself with what will surely stand. When I am tempted to set my own way against what you have said, remind me whose word finally stands. Keep me from staking myself against your word, which will prevail; help me submit to it, and build my life on the word that stands, rather than on my own, which cannot stand against yours. Let me trust and obey your sure word.