The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Jeremiah 42:1b-3, 20, “…all the people both small and great approached

2 and said to Jeremiah the prophet, ‘Please let our petition come before you,

and pray for us to the LORD your God, that is for all this remnant; because

we are left but a few out of many, as your own eyes now see us, 3 that the

LORD your God may tell us the way in which we should walk and the thing

that we should do….’” 20 “For you have only deceived yourselves; for it is you

who sent me to the LORD your God, saying, ‘Pray for us to the LORD our

God; and whatever the LORD our God says, tell us so, and we will do it.’

21 “So, I have told you today, but you have not obeyed the LORD your God,

even in whatever He has sent me to tell you.”

The days of Jeremiah were indeed difficult times. Wars and tumult were

on every side. The people were anxious and fearful. They had lived wickedly

and served other gods. But, now they turn to Jeremiah and beg him to seek

the LORD’s way for them. They promised Jeremiah (and the LORD) that

whatever He wanted them to do, they would do it –no questions asked!

Jeremiah prayed for guidance, and 10 days later, the LORD revealed His

will for the people: they were to stay where they were and not go down

into Egypt. Yet, having promised they would do what the LORD commanded,

they decided otherwise. Jeremiah said, “…you have deceived yourselves…

you have not obeyed the LORD your God…” Mark it well: failure to obey

the LORD is always self-deception!

Aren’t we often just like these people? We have trouble; we pray that the

LORD will guide us out of it; but when He shows us clearly what we ought

to do, we stubbornly think we’ve figured it out for ourselves and do the

opposite. Of course, the end for us is then disastrous! When will we realize

that the LORD knows best? He is always right; why, then, do we not listen

and obey His Word?

The LORD loves you; and His love enables us to love you, too!

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”