Happy Monday!
Do you ever give a problem or fear to God, only to take it back the next day? We don’t mean to, but often there’s a little voice inside whispering, “Don’t bother God with this. You can figure it out.” So we hoist our problems back onto our shoulders, quickly discovering the weight is too much. Still, we struggle to surrender, even though the situation is draining the life out of us.
Where is God prompting you to give that problem back to Him again?
Today's devotion is a cautionary tale from the life of King Zedekiah, who feared surrender even though it would save his life. We'll look at the highlights from this story so you can learn from the king's mistakes. Often, our lives, our relationships, our peace, and our well-being depend on whether we hand over the reins and trust God.
In Jeremiah 38 (also 2 Kings 25), King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon invaded Jerusalem. This was predicted long ago as God's punishment because the Jewish people refused to listen to Him, worshipped idols, and sacrificed their children. At the time of the invasion, Jehoiachin was king of Judah, but Nebuchadnezzar took him into captivity after Jehoiachin rebelled. Nebuchadnezzar then made Jehoiachin's uncle Matthaniah king of Judah and changed his name to Zedekiah (2 Kings 25:17).
A few years later, Zedekiah summoned the prophet Jeremiah to ask for advice on how to survive the invasion of Jerusalem. This wasn't the first time the king asked for advice. Jeremiah had already offered counsel that the king ignored (Jeremiah 37:2). This time, here is what God told Jeremiah to relay to Zedekiah:
"If you surrender to the Babylonian officers, you and your family will live... But if you refuse to surrender, you will not escape." (Jeremiah 38:17-18 NLT)
Note King Zedekiah's response: "But I am afraid to surrender... and who knows what they will do to me." (Jeremiah 38:19 NLT)
Zedekiah's fear was understandable. He could likely hear the vast Babylonian army pounding against the walls of Jerusalem. He had already seen Jehoiachin taken away. However, Zedekiah's fear kept him from trusting God with the outcome and the future, even though his life depended on it.
Fear often keeps us from trusting God enough to surrender. What's tricky is that fear can sound spiritual. But it's not. This false prophet whispers worst-case scenarios. Fear can warp your understanding of Scripture or tempt you to delay obedience. Fear also causes confusion, leading you to question God's goodness or His sovereignty.
This is why it is crucial to constantly be in the Word of God so you can tell the difference between the voice of fear and the voice of God.
As you reflect on today's story, notice that Zedekiah had a direct guarantee from God, yet he was too afraid to trust Him. He let the voice of fear become bigger than God.
If you're wondering what Zedekiah ultimately did, the ending of his story is tragic. In Jeremiah 39 (also 2 Kings 25), the walls of Jerusalem fell. King Zedekiah tried to escape, but he was caught. King Nebuchadnezzar forced Zedekiah to watch as his sons were murdered. Then they gouged out Zedekiah's eyes, bound him in chains, and took him to Babylon (Jeremiah 39:6 NLT). Not only did Zedekiah suffer, but his family did too. It didn't have to happen.
While this is a tough Monday morning story to absorb, there's a valuable lesson for us, especially if you are in a serious situation. You don't have to make the same mistakes as King Zedekiah.
Let's start here: Sometimes God invites you to surrender because your life may depend on it.
The weight of fear or worry in your chest will never go away unless you completely give the situation over to God. In my
Surrendered: Letting Go and Living Like Jesus Bible Study, Surrender Principle #6 is my favorite:
Surrender is your only path to God's provision, power, and peace. Some of you right now are experiencing anxiety and health issues because you're still trying to fix or force solutions instead of giving them to God. Do you realize that your mental health or even your physical wellness may depend on your decision to surrender?
