#soap # Jeremiah 40 ## Title: Freedom to Choose ## Scripture: (Jeremiah 40:4) “But now, Jeremiah, today I will set you free from the chains on your wrists. If you would like to come to Babylon with me, come along and I will take care of you. But if you prefer not to come to Babylon with me, you are not required to do so. You are free to go anywhere in the land you want to go. Go wherever you choose.”” (NET) ## Observation: Faithfulness pays off. Because Jeremiah had been faithful to the LORD, the LORD blessed him in the middle of disaster. The nation has been destroyed and everything lies in ruins. However, Jeremiah is able to choose what he wants to do. This is an amazing blessing. No doubt, spies had told the invading army there was a holy man saying they would be successful. This would have been seen as a good thing in the eyes of the enemy because it would have worked toward shaking the confidence of the army. This was not Jeremiah’s intent. His goal was to spare as much bloodshed as possible. When God destroyed the nation, He preserved Jeremiah in a way he might not have expected. When bad things are happening all around you, look for where and when God will provide for you. You might be surprised where it comes from. ## Application: Trust the Lord. Your faithfulness to Him will pay off. ## Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, for being so trustworthy.