11 For I know the PLANS I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘PLANS TO PROSPER YOU AND NOT TO HARM YOU, PLANS TO GIVE YOU HOPE AND A FUTURE. Jeremiah 29
God’s had affirmed His Good Plans (‘Plans’ used 3 times above) for Judah, but the enemy continued interfering.
Amazingly, God had exiled Judah a four month journey from their homeland, but even there some still opposed Him.
21 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says about Ahab son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah son of Maaseiah, who are PROPHESYING LIES TO YOU in my name: ‘I will deliver them into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will put them to death before your very eyes. … and in my name they have spoken lies – which I did not tell them to do. I KNOW IT AND AM A WITNESS TO IT,’ declares the Lord. Jeremiah 29
God identified the two men who had spoken lies in His Name to the exiles and declared that they would be removed and their names become a curse.
Another man, Shemaiah, had sent letters in his own name to all the people in Jerusalem, to the priest Zephaniah and the other priests.
You said to Zephaniah, 26 “The Lord has appointed you priest in place of Jehoiada to be in charge of the house of the Lord; you should PUT ANY MAD-MAN WHO ACTS LIKE A PROPHET into the stocks and neck-irons. 27 So why have you not reprimanded Jeremiah from Anathoth, who poses as a prophet among you? Jeremiah 29
The enemy spoke lies through false prophets to the exiles AND tried to silence Jeremiah, the true prophet of God, still in Jerusalem. A two pronged attack on God’s people, broadcast false prophecy and silence the true prophetic voices. This is exactly what has been happening today! The world media have spoken WITH ONE VOICE (Planned and co-ordinated) during the recent widespread sickness and are now doing the same thing against the Russian leader, whom they’re desperate to remove.
32 this is what the Lord says: I will surely punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his descendants. He will have no one left among this people, nor will he see the good things I will do for my people, declares the Lord, because he has preached rebellion against me.”’
God is still on the throne and is moving against those people/forces that oppose Him and His people. We need to be careful whose counsel we’re heeding to in these days. The voice of the media and politicians, is unreliable. God’s people need to hear His voice and He still speaks the truth for those who listen.
I would recommend listening to Steve Shultz and the prophetic voices on Elijah Streams (they’re also digging 3 to 4 wells a month in Uganda and looking to help First Nations people in the USA). They speak God’s agenda and not the distorted rhetoric of world leaders.
God was willing to Forgive the people, but Not those who deliberately misled them and opposed His will.
May God bless and keep you today.