Complacent Christianity Comes with a High Cost

Murder is a common theme of the Bible's narrative. In Jeremiah 41, we find the vassal governor of the now deserted land of Judah is the target of an ambitious hired assassin named Ishmael, who wants his position. And though the governor, Gedeliah, is warned, he ignores the threat of his demise. 

Jeremiah 41:1–2 (ESV) In the seventh month, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, son of Elishama, of the royal family, one of the chief officers of the king, came with ten men to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, at Mizpah. As they ate bread together there at Mizpah, 2 Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and the ten men with him rose up and struck down Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, with the sword, and killed him, whom the king of Babylon had appointed governor in the land.

What is intriguing about this man Ishmael is that though he was hired by the king of the Ammonites, he was also a descendent of King David (see 2 Samuel 5:16). Further, he was hired by the Ammonite king to kill Gedaliah perhaps because of the treaty the Ammonites made (See Jeremiah 27) with Judah to resist the Babylonians and his leadership in the land after the destruction of Jerusalem was appalling to them. 

The problem with Gedaliah was simple, however. Nebuchadnezzar appointed him king, but he did not realize there were enemies after him for various reasons. He was ignorant and gullible, believing his life was safe as long as he had his position. Nothing could be further from the truth. 

Earlier, a man named Johonan sought to protect Gedaliah. 

Jeremiah 40:15–16 (ESV) Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke secretly to Gedaliah at Mizpah, “Please let me go and strike down Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no one will know it. Why should he take your life, so that all the Judeans who are gathered about you would be scattered, and the remnant of Judah would perish?” 16 But Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, said to Johanan, the son of Kareah, “You shall not do this thing, for you are speaking falsely of Ishmael.”

The name Johonan means "God has graced." That's what Johonan was supposed to be for Gedaliah, a gracious protection God gave to preserve the governor's life, but he refused to receive it and paid dearly. 

Gedaliah's murder caused the city to unrest under Ishmael's leadership. He slaughtered 70 more men in the story. Thankfully, Johonan wouldn't be stopped this time, and he took matters into his own hands to pursue Ishmael and save the few remaining captives of his rule. When they see him, there's overwhelming joy.

Jeremiah 41:13–14 (ESV) And when all the people who were with Ishmael saw Johanan the son of Kareah and all the leaders of the forces with him, they rejoiced. 14 So all the people whom Ishmael had carried away captive from Mizpah turned around and came back, and went to Johanan the son of Kareah.

Jeremiah 41:16 (ESV) Then Johanan the son of Kareah and all the leaders of the forces with him took from Mizpah all the rest of the people whom he had recovered from Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, after he had struck down Gedaliah the son of Ahikam—soldiers, women, children, and eunuchs, whom Johanan brought back from Gibeon.

The episode is strange and begs for application. I believe it's a picture of faith in one's salvation but ignorance of one's enemies. Christian, you have many. The demons of hell are after your soul. They want to steal what is yours by appointment. They cannot do that, but they can deceive you into complacent acquiescence. They can lure you into a false sense of security and trounce your spirit. 

In a world full of Ishmael's, living ignorantly of the threat around you is very dangerous, as Gedaliah did. What is more, just as people depended on Gedaliah to be wise to the threat, people also rely on you to stand strong in the faith and fight for your faith. You must receive the grace of God to fight this good fight in faith, to rescue other sinners from the grips of the devil through the Gospel, and to leave behind a family legacy for those after you that they might trust in the Lord.