Jeremiah 41 reminds me of Jesus’ warning to His disciples, “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard” (Matthew10:16). It can be wonderfully refreshing to see the face of innocence representing God’s truth, but we must never forget that real evil exists. There are advantages to being naive about the depths of depravity of mankind, but the gullible can become easy targets for predators. In today’s chapter, the Babylonian-appointed governor over conquered Israel is unguarded. “Ishmael… who was of royal blood and had been one of the king’s officers, came… to Gedaliah”. Because of jealousy or ambition, Ishmael wanted what was not his. “While they were eating together… Ishmael… and the ten men who were with him got up and struck down Gedaliah… Ishmael also killed all the men of Judah who were with Gedaliah”. It was as if they never considered that defense was necessary. They literally invited their destroyers in to dine. Once in control, they were not satisfied. “The day after Gedaliah’s assassination… eighty men… bringing grain offerings and incense with them to the house of the Lord” were met outside the city. They were simply coming to worship God. Yet, Ishmael “slaughtered them and threw them into a cistern”. They continued their destruction and “filled it with the dead”. Are you an easy target?
These marauders continued to take, “Ishmael made captives of all the rest of the people who were in Mizpah—the king’s daughters along with all the others who were left there”. They decided to escape to a neighboring nation, “and set out to cross over to the Ammonites”. Even though the captives outnumbered their captors, they did not resist, until hope arrived. “Johanan… and all the army officers… heard about all the crimes Ishmael… had committed… they took all their men and went to fight… When all the people Ishmael had with him saw Johanan… they were glad… turned and went over to Johanan”. What are you waiting for?
The captives were set free, “All the people Ishmael had taken captive… But Ishmael… and eight of his men escaped from Johanan and fled to the Ammonites”. But the reaction of the hero is interesting. “Then Johanan… and all the army officers who were with him led away all the people… the soldiers, women, children… to Egypt to escape the Babylonians”. Why would they escape to Egypt? “They were afraid”. They were afraid of the murderers returning and they were afraid of the Babylonians. They didn’t dare go back home, even though they had done the right and just thing. Fear is a tool of the enemy. We don’t want to rock the boat, or risk becoming a target of the corrupt, so instead, we hide our beliefs and hold our tongues. After Jesus’ warning above, He added, “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body” (Matt 10:27-28). The enemy wants to separate and isolate us to make us believe we are alone. If you speak up against the evil you see, maybe you will give hope to others.