I have been going through the study of the book of Jeremiah, and when I reached chapters 42 and 43, something deeply spoke to me.

To set the stage, Jeremiah was a prophet who spoke on behalf of the Lord before and during the deportation of the Israelites to Babylon. Again and again, he warned the people about what the Lord was about to do and called them to repentance. But they refused to listen. Instead, they chose to believe false prophets, their own understanding, and their emotions.

Eventually, the deportation happened, just as Jeremiah had said. Only a small remnant remained in Judah.

After a violent act committed by some of those who remained against the Babylonians and the leadership appointed by the king of Babylon, fear took over. The people became afraid for their lives and decided that fleeing to Egypt was their safest option.

On their way to what they believed was security, they stopped and asked Jeremiah to seek the will of the Lord for them.

When I read those verses, my heart leaped. I highlighted my Bible and genuinely rejoiced.

I thought, they finally understand. Trusting the Lord, even when it looks foolish to human reasoning, is the true path to safety. God Himself is their security.

But then came chapter 43.

After the Lord clearly instructed them not to flee to Egypt, but to stay in the land and trust Him to preserve their lives, their response was shocking.

I had to pause.

These were the same people who, less than a chapter earlier, had vowed obedience. They had seen Jeremiah speak before and watched his words come to pass. They trusted him enough to ask for God’s direction.

So what happened?

As I sat with the text, I realized how familiar this pattern is.

Is this not what we often do?

We come to God in prayer, asking for direction, wisdom, and clarity. We surrender. We promise obedience. We say we want His will above all else.

But when His answer does not align with:

• what we want,
• what we feel,
• what makes sense to us,
• what experts recommend,
• what the majority agrees with,
• or what our own strength can handle,

something shifts.

We begin to reason:

• Is this really God speaking?
• Did I hear Him correctly?
• I don’t think God would ask this of me.
• This feels too risky.
• This doesn’t seem wise.

That reasoning has only one purpose. It is not discernment. It is justification for disobedience.

The people in Jeremiah 43 did not suddenly doubt Jeremiah because he was unfaithful. They doubted him because obedience had become inconvenient.

Jeremiah 42–43 is not just a historical account. It is a mirror.

It reminds us that true obedience is revealed not when God’s word confirms our plans, but when it challenges them.

The question is not whether God has spoken.

The question is whether we are willing to obey when His word costs us comfort, control, or certainty.

Because seeking God’s will only matters if we are ready to follow it.