Jeremiah 42:10
If you will indeed stay in this land, then I will build you up and not tear you down; I will plant you and not uproot you, for I will relent of the disaster I have brought upon you.
If you will indeed stay in this land
This phrase is a direct command from God to the remnant of Judah through the prophet Jeremiah. The context is post-Babylonian exile, where the people are contemplating fleeing to Egypt for safety. Staying in the land signifies trust in God's promise and His sovereignty. Historically, the land of Judah was the covenant land given to the Israelites, and remaining there was an act of faithfulness to God's covenant.

then I will build you up and not tear you down;
This promise echoes the language of restoration and hope. The imagery of building up suggests stability, growth, and prosperity. It contrasts with the earlier prophecies of destruction due to disobedience (Jeremiah 1:10). The assurance of not being torn down reflects God's mercy and willingness to restore His people if they obey.

I will plant you and not uproot you,
The metaphor of planting signifies establishing roots and permanence. It is reminiscent of the promises in Jeremiah 24:6, where God speaks of watching over the people for their good. The idea of not being uprooted contrasts with the exile, where the people were forcibly removed from their land. This promise indicates a reversal of their previous judgment.

for I will relent of the disaster I have brought upon you.
This phrase highlights God's compassion and readiness to forgive. The disaster refers to the Babylonian conquest and exile, seen as divine judgment for the people's sins. The concept of God relenting is seen in other scriptures, such as Jonah 3:10, where God spares Nineveh. It underscores the conditional nature of prophecy, where repentance can lead to divine mercy.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jeremiah
A major prophet in the Old Testament, known for his messages of warning and hope to the people of Judah.

2. The Remnant of Judah
The group of Israelites who remained in Judah after the Babylonian conquest and exile.

3. Egypt
The place where the remnant considered fleeing to escape further Babylonian oppression.

4. Babylonian Exile
The period when many Israelites were taken captive to Babylon, a significant event in Jewish history.

5. God's Promise
The assurance given by God through Jeremiah that He would restore and bless the people if they remained in the land.
Teaching Points
Obedience Brings Restoration
God's promise to "build you up and not tear you down" emphasizes the importance of obedience to His commands. Staying in the land was a test of faith and trust in God's plan.

God's Relenting Nature
The phrase "for I relent of the disaster" shows God's willingness to change His course of action in response to repentance and obedience. This highlights His mercy and compassion.

The Importance of Place
God's instruction to remain in the land underscores the significance of being where God wants us to be. It is a reminder that our location and circumstances are often part of His divine plan.

Trust in God's Timing
The promise to "plant you and not uproot you" requires patience and trust in God's timing. It teaches us to wait on the Lord and His perfect plan for our lives.

The Consequences of Fear
The remnant's fear of Babylon led them to consider fleeing to Egypt. This serves as a warning against making decisions based on fear rather than faith.
Bible Study Questions
1. What does Jeremiah 42:10 teach us about the relationship between obedience and God's blessings?

2. How can we apply the concept of being "planted" by God in our own lives today?

3. In what ways does God's willingness to relent from disaster encourage us in our walk with Him?

4. How does the instruction to remain in the land challenge us to trust in God's plan, even when it seems difficult?

5. What are some modern-day "Egypts" that we might be tempted to flee to, and how can we resist that temptation by trusting in God?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Deuteronomy 30:1-5
This passage speaks of God's promise to restore Israel if they return to Him, similar to the promise in Jeremiah 42:10.

Psalm 1:3
The imagery of being "planted" and prospering is echoed here, emphasizing the blessings of obedience.

Isaiah 61:3
The idea of being "planted" by the Lord is also found here, symbolizing stability and blessing.

2 Chronicles 7:14
The call for repentance and God's promise to heal the land parallels the message in Jeremiah.

Romans 11:23-24
Paul speaks of being grafted in, using similar imagery of planting and uprooting, highlighting God's power to restore.
Divine Comforts for Those in Doubt and FearD. Young Jeremiah 42:7-12
Man's Utter Dependence Upon GodS. Conway Jeremiah 42:7-18
People
Hoshaiah, Jeremiah, Jezaniah, Johanan, Kareah
Places
Babylon, Egypt, Jerusalem
Topics
Abide, Build, Builded, Building, Calamity, Certainly, Changed, Disaster, Distress, Dwell, Evil, Grieve, Grieved, Indeed, Inflicted, Overthrow, Plant, Planted, Planting, Pluck, Pull, Pulling, Purpose, Relent, Repent, Repented, Stay, Tear, Throw, Uproot, Uprooting
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Jeremiah 42:10

     5970   unhappiness
     8413   edification

Jeremiah 42:6-10

     7145   remnant

Library
Jeremiah, a Lesson for the Disappointed.
"Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord."--Jeremiah i. 8. The Prophets were ever ungratefully treated by the Israelites, they were resisted, their warnings neglected, their good services forgotten. But there was this difference between the earlier and the later Prophets; the earlier lived and died in honour among their people,--in outward honour; though hated and thwarted by the wicked, they were exalted to high places, and ruled in the congregation.
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VIII

"The Carnal Mind is Enmity against God for it is not Subject to the Law of God, Neither Indeed Can Be. So Then they that Are
Rom. viii. s 7, 8.--"The carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." It is not the least of man's evils, that he knows not how evil he is, therefore the Searcher of the heart of man gives the most perfect account of it, Jer. xvii. 12. "The heart is deceitful above all things," as well as "desperately wicked," two things superlative and excessive in it, bordering upon an infiniteness, such
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Jeremiah
The interest of the book of Jeremiah is unique. On the one hand, it is our most reliable and elaborate source for the long period of history which it covers; on the other, it presents us with prophecy in its most intensely human phase, manifesting itself through a strangely attractive personality that was subject to like doubts and passions with ourselves. At his call, in 626 B.C., he was young and inexperienced, i. 6, so that he cannot have been born earlier than 650. The political and religious
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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