“This is what the LORD says: ‘Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague, but whoever goes over to the Babylonians will live. They will escape with their lives; they will live.’ Jeremiah 38:2
God had a plan to use the Babylonians to destroy Jerusalem and Judah and bring all the people into captivity. The people had a choice to make. The choice was to either fight against the Babylonians and not go with them, or to surrender to the Babylonians and go with them. God said that those who refused to go would die in some manner. Everyone who went with the Babylonians would live.
Looking at the plan God had for the people it looked insane. Why would God want His people to surrender to the enemy?
The Israelites had chosen for a time to reject God and not follow Him. Going into exile in Babylon was a punishment meant to get them to focus back on Him. In the process of this plan God had their best interest in mind. Living for self or sin would only bring death, living for and following God would bring about life.
There are times in life when God has a plan for a person’s life that looks insane. It does not allows appear to make sense in why God has the person walking down a certain road, yet He does.
Walking into persecution, prison, punishment, pain, or suffering does not appear to be the best thing for a person…according to man. God sees a bigger picture. He sees the end results and the value of everything that occurs in a person’s life.
Going through these situations will be a very difficult choice to make. You need to trust God’s decision and see what God wants you to learn through the situation. The reasons for going through the situation may be one of many different reasons. Know that God has you going through it, if for nothing else, to make you more like Jesus.
The world gives you a path that appears to lead to life, but will only end in death, staying in the city. God will only give you a path that appears to lead to death, but will lead you to life.
One appears sane, but brings death. One appears insane, but brings life. Which will you follow?
I pray today that you will know the plan God has for your life; that you will trust God’s plan for your life; that you will know the life God has for you; and that you will follow God with all of your life.
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