Year of Exposure Day 29: Those who honor God’s word are saved from destruction.

Year “Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “This is what the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘If you surrender to the Babylonian officers, you and your family will live, and the city will not be burned down.”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭38‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Destruction was determined for the children of Israel. Warning after warning had gone unheeded. Even so, the Lord offered a way of escaping the destruction, for those who would accept the way out He offered.

The fact is, the Lord has consistently—in dealing with Israel as well as in other circumstances—offered a last chance, a final call, for those who will obey and take the way of escape the Lord has offered.

Indeed, even within the context of the impending destruction of Israel we have been considering the last several days, the Lord made wonderful promises to people who would obey Him by honoring His word.

We have talked about Jeremiah using Baruch, his scribe, to write his words, and to deliver them when Jeremiah was unable to do so.

In the midst of being always threatened because of the words he wrote, Baruch must have gone through periods of great strain. Yet, he remained faithful to the prophetic word.

One small chapter in Jeremiah tells how the Lord gave Baruch a wonderful promise because of his faithfulness.

“The prophet Jeremiah gave a message to Baruch son of Neriah in the fourth year of the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, after Baruch had written down everything Jeremiah had dictated to him. He said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to you, Baruch: You have said, ‘I am overwhelmed with trouble! Haven’t I had enough pain already? And now the Lord has added more! I am worn out from sighing and can find no rest.’ “Baruch, this is what the Lord says: ‘I will destroy this nation that I built. I will uproot what I planted. Are you seeking great things for yourself? Don’t do it! I will bring great disaster upon all these people; but I will give you your life as a reward wherever you go. I, the Lord, have spoken!’””

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭45‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

As well, the person who beseeched Zedekiah for Jeremiah‘s life, Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian eunuch, was given a wonderful “pep talk” and promise by the Lord.

“The Lord had given the following message to Jeremiah while he was still in prison: “Say to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: I will do to this city everything I have threatened. I will send disaster, not prosperity. You will see its destruction, but I will rescue you from those you fear so much. Because you trusted me, I will give you your life as a reward. I will rescue you and keep you safe. I, the Lord, have spoken!’””

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭39‬:‭15‬-‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Yes, the Lord promised Ebed- melech that because he had trusted the Lord, and had reached out to save Jeremiah, even though he was afraid, he would be saved from destruction.

In our opening scripture, we see the assurance the Lord had offered to Zedekiah. Tragically, as we saw yesterday, Zedekiah‘s fear caused him to refuse the way of escape, resulting in his awful fate.

Child of God, let’s be sure to obey what God has said, whether in His word, His prophetic voices, or by the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Indeed, heeding the word of the Lord by recognizing who Jesus Christ is and faithfully following Him, can save us all from standing unprepared, in the final judgment.

“For just as the Father gives life to those he raises from the dead, so the Son gives life to anyone he wants. In addition, the Father judges no one. Instead, he has given the Son absolute authority to judge, so that everyone will honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son is certainly not honoring the Father who sent him. “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.”

‭‭John‬ ‭5‬:‭21‬-‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!