QT 02/07/2025 Wed. Jeremiah 43 Don’t Go Back To Ancient Egypt 别回古埃及

QT 02/07/2025 Wed. Jeremiah 43 Don’t Go Back To Ancient Egypt
READ http://www.esv.org/jer43

Where is your heart tempted to seek shelter and safety when chaos or uncertainty disturb our preferred equilibrium in life?

📖 Scripture Focus:
Only he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses, since the LORD has said to you, ‘You shall never return that way again.’ — Deuteronomy 17:16b (ESV)

“So Johanan … and all the people … entered the land of Egypt, for they did not obey the voice of the Lord.” — Jeremiah 43:7 (ESV)

Reflection:
In Deuteronomy 17:16, God gives a clear and prophetic warning: His people are not to return to Egypt—not for safety, not for horses, not for security. Egypt, throughout the Bible, becomes a symbol of bondage, of trusting in human strength, and of turning away from the Lord’s provision.

Yet in Jeremiah 43, we find the remnant of Judah doing exactly what God had forbidden centuries earlier. Fearing Babylon and doubting God's protection, they retreat to Egypt for safety. Even after asking Jeremiah to seek the Lord’s will, they reject God's word and follow their fears.

This isn't just a story about ancient Israel. It's a warning for us.

How often do we, like them, pray for guidance only to go our own way when God’s answer isn’t what we hoped for? How often do we return to old habits, relationships, or worldly solutions—our own "Egypts"—because we don’t trust God’s way is safe or sufficient?

The heart of the issue is trust. Ancient Egypt of Moses and Jeremiah’s time offered visible power—horses, armies, alliances. But God offers something greater: His presence. The command “You shall never return that way again” is not just a restriction. It's an invitation to live by faith, not fear.

Self Check:
(1) What is your “Egypt”? What do you tend to return to when you're afraid or uncertain?

(2) Are there areas in your life where you’re asking for God’s direction but not really prepared to obey?

(3) What would it look like today to trust God’s promise rather than the world's provision?

Prayer:
Lord, I confess that I often look for security in the things You've told me to leave behind. Forgive me for doubting Your voice and seeking strength in the world's systems. Help me to trust You fully—to follow where You lead, even when it feels risky. Keep my heart from returning to Egypt of Moses and Jeremiah’s time, or whatever still remains in my heart symbolically today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

QT 02/07/2025 星期三. 耶利米书 43 别回古埃及
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/Jer/43/

当混乱或不确定性扰乱了我们所喜欢的生活平衡时，你的心会被引诱到哪里去寻求庇护和安全？

📖 经文聚焦：
“只是君王不可为自己加添马匹，也不可使人民回埃及去，为要加添马匹，因为耶和华曾经对你们说过：‘你们不可再回到那条路去。’- 申命记 17:16b

“把他们都带进埃及地，去到答比匿，没有听从耶和华的话。”- 耶利米书 43：7

反思：
在申命记 17：16 中，上帝发出了明确的预言性警告： 祂的子民不能返回埃及--不是为了安全，不是为了马匹，也不是为了保障。在整部《圣经》中，埃及都象征着束缚，象征着相信人的力量，象征着背弃耶和华的供应。

然而，在《耶利米书》第 43 章中，我们发现犹大余民所做的，正是上帝在几个世纪前所禁止的。他们惧怕巴比伦，怀疑上帝的保护，于是退到埃及寻求安全。即使在请求耶利米寻求主的旨意之后，他们还是拒绝了神的话语，追随自己的恐惧。

这不仅仅是一个关于古代以色列的故事。它是对我们的警示。

我们有多少时候会像他们一样，祈求指引，但当上帝的回答与我们的期望不符时，我们又会走自己的路？我们有多少次回到旧习惯、旧关系或世俗的解决方案--我们自己的 "旧埃及"--因为我们不相信上帝的道路是安全或足够的？

问题的核心在于信任。摩西和耶利米时代的古埃及提供了看得见的力量--马匹、军队、联盟。但上帝提供了更伟大的东西： 祂的同在。你不可再走那条路的命令不仅仅是一种限制。它是邀请我们凭信心而非恐惧生活。

自我检查：
(1) 你的“埃及”是什么？当你害怕或不确定时，你倾向于回到什么地方？

(2) 在你的生活中，是否有一些地方你祈求神的指引，但却没有真正准备好去顺服？

(3) 今天，相信神的应許而不是世界的供应，会是怎样的？

祷告：
主啊，我承认我常常在你让我留下的东西中寻找安全感。原谅我怀疑你的声音，在世界的体系中寻求力量。帮助我完全信任你--跟随你的指引，即使感觉有风险。让我的心不再回到摩西和耶利米时代的埃及，或今天仍象征性地留在我心中的任何东西。奉耶稣之名祷告。阿门。