Counting the Cost of Discipleship

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SYLLABUS
STUDIES IN THE BOOK OF Jeremiah

JEREMIAH 45-46
Lesson #40
COUNTING THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP

• Memory Verse: Luk 14:27
• In the book of Jeremiah, we see more of Baruch in these last chapters. He had become a friend to Jeremiah and acted as a scribe for him.
  • He helped with the legal paper work for the purchase of the piece of land God told Jeremiah to buy. (Jer 32)
  • He wrote all the prophecies of Jeremiah on a scroll which King Jehoiakim cut up and burned. (Jer 36)
  • He re-wrote the scroll of all of Jeremiah’s prophecies.
  • Baruch was forced by the remnant to go to Egypt along with Jeremiah.
• God gives Jeremiah a prophecy specifically for Baruch.
  • While the prophecy was actually given during the reign of King Jehoiakim before the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 586 BC, it is placed here in the chronology of the book as an encouragement to Baruch en Egypt.
  • Baruch became frightened when, after helping Jeremiah write all the prophecies in a scroll, he had to read them in front of all the antagonistic leaders and the king.
  • What often occurs in ministry is what Jesus referred to as “to count the cost” of discipleship.
    • Baruch is suffering the same uncomfortable position as Jeremiah because he has aligned himself with Jeremiah against the established leaders. Jeremiah’s enemies have become Baruch’s enemies.
    • Read Mat 8:19-22
    • Read Luk 14:11-20 , 26-35
      • When a person gives his heart to the Lord and invites Jesus into his heart, he identifies himself with Christ.
      • The enemies of Jesus become the enemies of the believer.
      • The believer must “bear his cross” to follow Jesus. What does that mean?
        • To bear the cross is to die to the flesh nature: his wishes, his plans, and his desires.
        • It means to give up his own personal desires for his life and replace them with service to God. Crucifixion is a sacrifice.
        • Sometimes it is to give up personal relationships of family and friends. That is the hardest sacrifice.
      • Read Gal 2:20
• Read Jer 45:1-5 The Message to Baruch
  • Baruch, like all of human nature, complains when we have to suffer something uncomfortable.
    • Baruch had been with Jeremiah long enough to see the suffering that Jeremiah endured for serving God.
    • Complaints occur when human nature is in control.
  • What did God say to Baruch when he was in a complaining mood?
    • God told Baruch that God is in control.
    • In God’s time and purpose, He will establish and He will tear down.
  • What does complaining tell God about you?
    • When we complain, it is as though we think we know better than God does. Complaining says to God that we are full of pride because we have better knowledge than God has.
    • We assume that we are in control, when, in fact, we have no control over situations at all.
      • Complaining only makes matters worse. How?
        • Complaining keeps you focused on the circumstances when we should be focused on God.
        • Complaining keeps you from learning what God wants you to learn from the situation.
        • Complaining keeps you in control instead of recognizing that God is in control.
        • Complaining denies faith and promotes unbelief.
      • For example: The book of Numbers is a book full of complaints from Israel. Unbelief kept them wandering in the wilderness of unbelief for forty years.
  • What beautiful thing do you see in God’s words of encouragement to Baruch?
    • “…but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places wither thou goest.” (5)
      • God says to Baruch that wherever he goes, there will be people that will pursue and persecute him.
        • Jesus promised us, his believers, the same thing.
        • Read Mar 10:30
      • However, God will protect him by giving him his life so that he will be able to escape his enemies.
    • The enemy can go only so far as God permits him to go, for God is ultimately in control.
• Read Jer 46:1-12 The prophecy to Egypt that had already been fulfilled.
  • Now that the remnant has decided to settle in Egypt contrary to the perfect will of God, God wants them to know that destruction also comes to Egypt.
  • They are in the place where no believer wants to be…on the side of the enemy when God brings judgment to them.
  • However, the first part of this prophecy had already been fulfilled before the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC. Therefore, for the remnant in Egypt, the battle of Carchemish was already known history.
    • The date when Egypt was defeated in the battle of Carchemish was 605 BC. (Jer 25:1 and Jer 46:2) This date was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign and the fourth year of Jehoiakim’s reign.
    • This battle at Carchemish is one of the most infamous battles of all human history and changed the world’s balance of power.
      • This famous battle occurred north of Israel near the city of Haran (now Syria). There had been a continual struggle for territory between Egypt and Babylon for about 4 years in this area under the leadership of Nebuchadnezzar’s father. However, dominance over Egypt was illusive.
      • The new, young King Nebuchadnezzar led the Babylonian army in his first year as ruler over Babylon. He hit the Egyptian army hard causing them to retreat to the city of Hamath to regroup.
      • However, Nebuchadnezzar immediately followed the retreating Egyptian army and totally wiped them out.
    • This was the end of Egyptian dominance in the Middle East. This was also the beginning of the rise of the Babylonian Empire.
  • This was also the battle where good king Josiah was killed. Jeremiah was pleased to tell the Egyptian Pharaoh that he would pay for the death of King Josiah for Pharaoh talked Josiah into participating in this battle.
  • Notice that all the nations around the Middle East had heard about Egypt’s big defeat at Carchemish. (12)
• Read Jer 46:13-28 The prophecy to Egypt that had not yet been fulfilled.
  • Now the prophecy says that the Babylonians will come and take the Egyptian homeland. (13)
  • In verse 14, God mentions the destruction will come to the same cities where the remnant has settled.
  • Egypt raises a new hired army to defend the homeland using Ethiopians, Libyans, and Lydians (Turkey).
  • “he hath passed the time appointed.” (17)
    • The current Pharaoh in Egypt has come to the end of his reign.
    • The Bible is clear to tell us that it is God that puts people into positions of authority in a nation. He raises them up and he takes them down.
    • Read Rom 13:1-2. That truth is still true today.
  • “Egypt is like a very fair heifer…” (20)
    • Remember that Egypt worshipped the Apis bull. This is the form of the idol that the Israelites encouraged Aaron to make so they could worship the golden calf in the book of Exodus.
    • God will punish this pagan nation for their idolatry that they taught to the Israelites. (25)
  • God will eventually punish all nations for their attitude and actions against the Jews. Why? (28)
    • Read Gen 12:3
    • God gave this promise to Abraham. God still remembers this promise today and still functions accordingly.
    • Notice that God says He will bring an end to many nations because of their rebellion against the will of God, but He will not totally annihilate the Jews.
      • Yes, they will be punished, but not annihilated. Why? (Rom 11:1)
      • God is not finished with Israel (the Jewish people).
      • God must keep a remnant of Jews on the earth to enable God to fulfill all His promises to the descendants of Abraham.
        • God promised Abraham the land.
        • God promised Abraham multiplied blessings
        • God promised Abraham unnumbered descendants, both physical descendants and spiritual descendants. (New Testament believers are the spiritual descendants of Abraham by faith. Gal 3:29)
  • “The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saith: Behold I will punish the multitude….” (25)
    • This title for God refers to His heavenly army of angels.
    • They will help bring justice to the earth.

Homework
Jeremiah 47-48

• Application of Jer 45 and 46
  • What prevents you from serving God in a more full way?
    • What has God spoken to you to do that you have not been willing to do?
    • Which excuse in Luk 14:18-20 best fits you?
    • Ask God to forgive you for your disobedience and make a determination to be a more obedient disciple.
  • Which complaints keep you from fully trusting God’s authority?
• Preparation for Jer 47-48
  • Read Jer 47:1-7
  • Read Jer 48:1-47
    • What can we learn from these prophecies about the destruction of Israel’s enemies?
• Memory Verse: Isa 14:26