Leaders Who Later Fail

Remember Johanan from Jeremiah 41? The man who saved many others from the threats of the murderous coup? He seemed like a noble leader. But time reveals a lot. 

Jeremiah 42:5–6 (ESV) Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act according to all the word with which the LORD your God sends you to us. 6 Whether it is good or bad, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God to whom we are sending you, that it may be well with us when we obey the voice of the LORD our God.”

These are the words of the presumptive leaders of Israel in the land while the nation is in exile. The previous chapter saw a hero arise to protect a few remaining survivors. His name was Johanan. On the surface, he seems like a good man, seeking the will of the Lord in his leadership position.

Jeremiah returns with directives from the Lord:

Jeremiah 42:10 (ESV) If you will remain in this land, then I will build you up and not pull you down; I will plant you, and not pluck you up; for I relent of the disaster that I did to you.

Jeremiah 42:15–16 (ESV) then hear the word of the LORD, O remnant of Judah. Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: If you set your faces to enter Egypt and go to live there, 16 then the sword that you fear shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine of which you are afraid shall follow close after you to Egypt, and there you shall die.

The options are clear. Remain in the land and trust the Word of the Lord. Or they could flee to Egypt to escape from the rule of the Babylonians whom the Lord established. If they fled, they would be walking in disobedience to God. 

Now, the next chapter informs us of the decisions these people made under the leadership of Johanan. 

Jeremiah 43:2–4 (ESV) Azariah the son of Hoshaiah and Johanan the son of Kareah and all the insolent men said to Jeremiah, “You are telling a lie. The LORD our God did not send you to say, ‘Do not go to Egypt to live there,’ 3 but Baruch the son of Neriah has set you against us, to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they may kill us or take us into exile in Babylon.” 4 So Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces and all the people did not obey the voice of the LORD, to remain in the land of Judah.

They first accuse Jeremiah of lying, and they determine to do the exact opposite of God's Word. Here's the thing, though. Jeremiah already discerned this would be their decision.

Jeremiah 42:20–21 (ESV) that you have gone astray at the cost of your lives. For you sent me to the LORD your God, saying, ‘Pray for us to the LORD our God, and whatever the LORD our God says, declare to us and we will do it.’ 21 And I have this day declared it to you, but you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD your God in anything that he sent me to tell you.

The prophet was well aware of their intentions. He knew their request for God's direction was insincere. They were simply looking for God to validate what was already in their hearts. They were already on their way to Egypt in their minds, and all their spiritual pandering was simply window dressing to an empty commitment to God. 

What does this chapter teach us? The Word of God not only confronts our hearts, it discerns them. Listen to Hebrews:

Hebrews 4:12 (ESV) For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

The Word of God cuts us open and reveals what is already there. Now here is Johanan, who at first appeared to be a godly and wise leader, saving those he could from the assassins of Israel's governor in the last chapter. But as Paul says, the "sins of others appear later" (1 Timothy 5:24).

Leaders can look really good for a long time only to be later exposed as the empty vessels they always were. That is why it is utterly important to keep your eyes on Jesus Christ and to allow His Word to cut and shape your heart as He determines. Men will let you down; Christ will never fail.