Jeremiah 43
The Israelites' return to Egypt was a result of their failure of faith, which led to disobedience and a degeneration of desire, ultimately resulting in the destruction of Egypt.
Chuck Smith discusses the theme of returning to Egypt, emphasizing the spiritual degeneration that leads people to forget their history and the lessons learned from it. He highlights the failure of faith among the people, who sought safety in Egypt despite its oppressive past, demonstrating a lack of trust in God's guidance. Smith warns that such disobedience results in a degeneration of desire and a corruption of conscience, leading to cynicism and pessimism. He stresses the persistence of God's Word, which offers grace and a way out, even when people turn back to their old ways. Ultimately, the sermon calls for faith and obedience to God rather than reliance on human solutions.
Text
"BACK TO EGYPT"
Intro: Descendants of Abraham returned after nine hundred years. Their deliverance from
strange drawing toward. Local History.
I. THE REASON FOR RETURNING.
A. Days of degeneration are days of forgetfulness.
1. Forget lessons of history.
a. Great armies have never made a nation strong.
b. Savages depend on strength of physical force.
2. The strength of a people depends upon their spiritual life - their
relation to God.
a. What was it that made our nation great?
B. Motive for returning.
1. Seeking safety from danger.
a. No strength to resist - no will to fight.
b. Here is - Human manipulation of events, instead of Divine guidance
- intrigue instead of intercession.
2. How is it that they would seek safety in Egypt who had oppressed them?
a. The true story - "They obeyed not the voice of Jehovah."
b. A failure of FAITH.
C. Reason for returning.
1. Failure of faith.
a. Faith is obedience- conviction is not faith. Belief is not always
faith.
b. Failure of faith speaks then of disobedience.
1. They feared - (fear and faith mutually exclusive..
Panic is always a sure sign of loss of certainty about
God.
2. Failure of faith produces degeneracy of desire.
a. In chapter 42:14, Jeremiah tells them what they are thinking.
b. What did they desire?
1. Ease and bread.
2. Peace at any price except war and hunger.
c. I believe we should stand for right even if it means war.
3. Degeneration of desire leads to corruption of conscience.
a. Cynicism instead of faith - Pessimism instead of hope.
II. THE PERSISTENCE OF THE WORD OF GOD. vs. 8.
A. Message - Egypt shall be destroyed.
B. When men disobedient to the Word of Jehovah - turn back to the things from which
they were delivered, to escape a hardship. The things to which they turn are doomed.
C. The Word of God is always a message of Grace.
1. There is still a way out.
D. Isaiah - Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help...
Man not God.
Ps. 20 Horses flesh not Spirit.
vs. 7 Some trust in chariots.
Sermon Outline
- The Reason for Returning points: - Days of Degeneration are Days of Forgetfulness - Motives for Returning - Reason for Returning
- The Persistence of the Word of God points: - Message - Egypt Shall be Destroyed - Consequences of Disobedience - The Word of God is a Message of Grace
Key Quotes
“Days of degeneration are days of forgetfulness.” — Chuck Smith
“Faith is obedience- conviction is not faith. Belief is not always faith.” — Chuck Smith
“The Word of God is always a message of Grace.” — Chuck Smith
Application Points
- We must stand for right even if it means facing hardship or war.
- Faith is not just conviction, but obedience to God's Word.
- We must not turn back to the things from which we were delivered, but instead trust in God's Word.