Jeremiah 43: Hebrews Flight to Egypt

Introduction: Jeremiah 43 continues Jeremiah’s message to the people of Judah, who have been exiled to Egypt. In this chapter, Jeremiah warns the people against their disobedience to God and the consequences that will follow. The chapter also highlights the stubbornness of the people and their refusal to listen to the prophet’s words. Jeremiah’s message is clear: trust in God and follow His commands, or face the consequences of disobedience.

I. Jeremiah 43:1-3 – The People’s Disobedience
The people of Judah refuse to listen to Jeremiah’s warning and accuse him of lying. They blame him for their misfortunes and refuse to obey God’s commands. These verses highlights the people’s stubbornness and their refusal to accept the truth.
Cross-reference verses:

• Proverbs 1:7 – “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
• Isaiah 30:9-11 – “For they are a rebellious people, lying children, children unwilling to hear the instruction of the Lord.”
• 2 Timothy 4:3-4 – “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions.”

II. Jeremiah 43:4-7 – The People’s Journey to Egypt
Despite Jeremiah’s warning, the people of Judah continue their journey to Egypt, taking Jeremiah and Baruch with them. They settle in Tahpanhes, a city in Egypt, and continue to disobey God’s commands. These verses shows the people’s determination to go their own way, even in the face of God’s clear instructions.
Cross-reference verses:

• Exodus 20:2-3 – “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.”
• Isaiah 31:1 – “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the Lord!”
• Acts 7:39 – “Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt.”

III. Jeremiah 43:8-13 – God’s Judgment on Egypt
God speaks to Jeremiah and tells him to bury large stones in the pavement at the entrance of Pharaoh’s palace in Tahpanhes. This act is a sign of God’s judgment on Egypt, and a warning to the people of Judah that they will not escape God’s wrath by fleeing to Egypt. God will bring Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, to destroy Egypt and the people of Judah who have taken refuge there.
Cross-reference verses:

• Ezekiel 30:25-26 – “I will put my strength into the arms of the king of Babylon, and the sword shall be unsheathed against Egypt. They shall know that I am the Lord, when I put my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon and he stretches it out against the land of Egypt.”
• Jeremiah 46:13-14 – “The word that the Lord spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about the coming of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to strike the land of Egypt.”
• Revelation 18:4 – “Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues.”

Conclusion: Jeremiah 43 is a warning to the people of Judah and to us as well today. Disobedience to God’s commands leads to consequences, and no matter where we try to hide, we cannot escape the eyes of God being on us. The chapter calls us to trust in God, obey His commands, and not rely on our own understanding. We should learn from the mistakes of the people of Judah and choose to follow God’s path, rather than our own.