A Message for Baruch and Egypt

Chapter 45 is interesting. It’s a very short chapter. However, it gives us more insight into the personal life of Baruch than any other chapter. For the most part Baruch is a mysterious character in the book. He pops on the scene identified as the secretary of Jeremiah and not much else is said about him. Here we see that the Lord loves Baruch and he has a message just for him.

1. Baruch is struggling (1-3).

This chapter follows chapter 36 chronologically. If you remember in that chapter Baruch was tasked with taking the scroll to the Temple and reading it. This resulted in Baruch’s life being threatened and he had to go into hiding. Look at verse 3 and you see the emotional state of Baruch.

“Woe is me!”- This statement suggests he felt as if he were being judged.

“The Lord has added sorrow to my pain!” Baruch laid the blame of his emotional turmoil at the feet of the Lord. Likely Baruch was broken over what the Lord was doing. Jeremiah’s prophecies were frightening.

“I am weary with my groaning and I find no rest!” It is hard to rest when you are aware of coming calamity. Baruch was overwhelmed with what the Lord was doing to the nation. He was also overwhelmed with the position the Lord had put him in.

2. The Lord speaks to Baruch (4-6).

The first thing God tells Baruch is that He is in control. He built up the nation and now He is tearing it down. He is bringing discipline against His people. God is at work. Now look what the Lord says to Baruch next:

And do you seek great things for yourself?

What does Baruch expect? Does he think his life should be great even though the Lord is busy doing a work to bring His people back to Himself? God says that Baruch should be happy because He is going to spare his life in all of this.

It’s clear that Baruch thought he deserved better than he was getting. Baruch was a grandson of a former governor of Judah (2 Chr. 34:8). When he thought of hos his life would be it was probably better than this. He was the secretary of the most hated man in Jerusalem. He likely had very little in this world materially speaking. As well, he probably didn’t have many friends either.

If we are not careful, we will forget we exist for the Lord. the Lord is doing a work in this world, and we are blessed to be a part of it. In this world we will have tribulation. If we serve Him, we may have less friends and less things. But the B. god news is our soul is saved. We should thank God for the privilege of serving Him. What God is doing in this world is far bigger than what we are doing or want to do.

Are we seeking great things for ourselves? We should be seeking great things for God. We should be content to be in His will. If that means we suffer, so be it. Because what God is doing is so much bigger than anything we could do. It is a blessing to be just a small part of what God is doing. The next time we find ourselves complaining we should remember God’s words to Baruch.

3. A message to Egypt (46:1-12).

A. The introduction for chapters 46-51 (1-2).

Chapters 46-51 contain prophecies against specific nations. As we near the end of the book we are reminded of what was said in the beginning. Jeremiah is a prophet to the nations, not just the nation of Israel (1:5, 10). The first prophecy concerns Egypt. Pharaoh Neco ruled Egypt when Josiah was King. He brought troops to assist the Assyrians in their war against Judah. Josiah was killed in battle and Neco placed Jehoiakim on the throne. From 609-605 BC the Egyptians ruled the area Judah was located in. In 605 BC the Babylonians came against Egypt. The Egyptians were stationed at Carcemish and were easily defeated by the Babylonians. Egypt lost their stronghold on the region and Babylon gained it. The majority of this chapter is the description of Egypt falling to the Babylonians.

B. Egypt is stopped at the Euphrates (3-6).

Verses 3-4 describe the military of the Egyptians. They were a prepared people.

They had bucklers- small shields

They had shields that covered the entire body. These were also joined together to create an advancing wall of soldiers.

They had horses.

They had helmets.

They had spears.

They had armor.

They are told to take all they have and prepare for battle. This call to arms implies that they are about to be attacked.

By the description it seems that this will be a victorious army. Verse 5 shows us the surprise. Look at what is seen:

They are dismayed

They have turned backward

Their warriors are beaten down

They are running for their lives!

They are so afraid they don’t even look back. They simply retreat.

They meet their end at the Euphrates River. Archaeologists have found many Egyptian objects related to warfare in Carchemish. The town was destroyed around 600 BC which supports the biblical text that the Egyptians were defeated in a battle at Carchemish around 605 BC.

C. Egypt is taunted (7-12).

Egypt is likened to the flooding of the Nile River. The river was dangerous during times of flood. The Egyptian army is pictured as strong and devastating like the Nile River. Again we see the advanced army of the Egyptians:

Horses

Chariots

Warriors

The army is made up of soldiers from Cush, Put (in the area of Ethiopia and Libya) and Lud (Africans west of Egypt). These were skilled soldiers. They knew how to shoot a bow and use a shield.

But this day does not belong to the Egyptians. It belongs to the Lord (10). It is a day of vengeance. The loss of life is likened to a sacrifice to the Lord. God will strengthen the Babylonian army and it will easily defeat the Egyptians.

We see the taunt in verse 11. She is called “the virgin daughter of Egypt” probably because she had been isolated for some time. Her position geographically protected her from enemies. That protection is no longer. Egypt is told to go get some medicine in Gilead. The Balm of Gilead was mentioned in 8:22. That region contained medicinal plants. God tells them in verse 11 that there is no medicine that can help them. In verse 12 he tells them that the nations have heard of their defeat. They are likened to bumbling soldiers who are running into one another and falling over themselves.

4. A second message to Egypt (13-26).

A. Nebuchadnezzar is coming (13-19).

The announcement to all these Egyptian cities symbolizes the extent of the threat. The entire nation should be on alert. We’re not sure on the date of this attack. There are a few options but we’re not going to explore them. We will just stick with the text.

What’s clear is Nebuchadnezzar made his way to Egypt. The Lord subdues the Egyptian army. Look at verse 15- “The LORD thrust them down”. The damage was so bad in Egypt that those who had gone to Egypt from other lands to be soldiers fled. They no longer saw it as a place of safety (16).

They even mock Pharaoh. They call him “noisy one who lets the hours go by”. In other words, he’s all talk and no action. They are not going to fight for him any longer. When a ruler loses the confidence of the troops he has lost the war.

In verses 18-19 God says that an army like a mountain is coming. It will move through the land bringing devastation. The people should pack their backs and get ready to leave. The land will be a wasteland soon.

B. Mighty Egypt will fall (20-24).

Egypt is likened to a beautiful heifer. That might not sound like a compliment to us. But a beautiful heifer symbolized a healthy agriculture. A healthy agriculture made a prosperous nation. This beautiful heifer was about to get a visit from some biting flies from the North. Insects can cause livestock to panic and hurt themselves. The swarming Babylonian army is coming and it will send panic to the Egyptian army.

Mercenaries are referred to in verse 21. These were professional soldiers from foreign lands hired to help protect the nations. These soldiers were treated well because of the benefit they brought. But they would be nothing but fatted calves when the Babylonians arrived. Their expertise would not help them one bit. These men will turn to cowards when they see what is coming.

The Egyptian army is likened to a snake that does not bite but only hisses. It appears dangerous, but it hisses and runs away. That is how the Egyptian army was. It looked dangerous. It was feared by many. But it would prove to have no backbone when it saw what was coming.

Enemies marching in force

Wielding axes

Egypt is like a forest and Babylon is like a host of lumberjacks.

Babylon is also likened to a swarm of locusts. Locusts are known for their numbers and the damage they can do quickly. Egypt will be humiliated by Babylon.

C. Egypt’s gods and kings will be defeated (25-26)

Amon was the chief god of Upper Egypt. All the gods of Egypt were in danger. From the smallest to the greatest, including Pharaoh, they could not escape nor could they help. There is some hope found at the end of verse 26. Egypt will not be completely destroyed. The country will be inhabited again.

5. Hope for Israel (27-28).

These verses almost seem out of place. The context has been Egypt and Babylon. But Jeremiah does not want us to forget that God is still concerned for His people. As Israel watches the wars going on around them they should have confidence that the Lord is in control. God promises to gather them together once again and place them in their own land. God will discipline His people, but He will always have a people.

There is always hope for the Christian. We live in a world filled with wars and rumors of wars. Jesus told us these things would grow worse as time drew near its end. While the Lord will bring great devastation on this world we can be sure He will protect us. We will always be His people and we will always have a land.

We may feel like Baruch did in chapter 45 at times. We may see nothing but fighting and death all around us and wonder what in the world our purpose even is. Don’t get discouraged. God is working. He is working all things together. Eternity will be greater than your suffering.

Jesus told us that He has gone to prepare a place for us. If we believe that we can endure all the hardships of this world. God has a people, and He has a place for His people. He will make sure His people make it. The Lord has not forgotten us, He is moving history toward that great moment when he will gather us all up. Let us close with the words God gave Baruch:

“Seek not great things for yourself! I will give your life as a prize of war!”

If your soul is saved, you have more than enough to praise God for. Rejoice that your name is written in the book of life. Praise God you are on your way to heaven. Turn off the news and open your Bible. Put your mind on where you are headed and not where you are. When we do those things we will be reminded that this world is not our home.