Jeremiah 44:16

Jeremiah 44:16 captures a moment of profound and defiant rebellion from the Jewish remnant who had fled to Egypt after the destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon. Despite explicit warnings from the prophet Jeremiah, delivered directly in God's name, they declare their outright refusal to obey.

Context

This verse is set in Egypt, where a considerable number of Jews, including women and children, had migrated following the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC. This move was against the direct command of the Lord, delivered through Jeremiah, who had warned them of severe consequences if they sought refuge there (Jeremiah 42:19-20). In Jeremiah 44, the prophet delivers God's final message to this disobedient remnant, condemning their continued idolatry, particularly their worship of the 'queen of heaven'. The verse we are examining is their shockingly bold and unified response to Jeremiah's divine warning.

Key Themes and Messages

• Blatant Disobedience: The verse is an explicit, unreserved declaration of refusal to obey God's command. It's not merely a failure to obey, but an active, willful statement of rebellion against divine instruction.
• Rejection of Divine Authority: By proclaiming, "we will not hearken unto thee," they are not simply rejecting Jeremiah as a person. Since he spoke "in the name of the LORD," their defiance is a direct challenge to God's sovereignty and authority over their lives.
• Stubborn Idolatry: Their defiance stemmed from a deep-seated commitment to pagan practices. They believed that worshipping the 'queen of heaven' brought them prosperity and justified their actions by past experience, as stated in Jeremiah 44:17-19. This highlights the human tendency to cling to false worship that seems to offer immediate benefits.
• Consequences of Rebellion: This defiant statement foreshadows the severe judgment that God promised would come upon them for their persistent idolatry and disobedience in Egypt.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "hearken unto thee" translates the Hebrew verb shama (שָׁמַע), which means more than just to hear. It implies to listen attentively and obey. Their statement "we will not shama unto thee" is a powerful declaration of their intentional refusal to submit to divine instruction. The phrase "in the name of the LORD" emphasizes that Jeremiah's message carried the full weight and authority of God Himself, making their rejection an act of direct defiance against the Almighty.

Related Scriptures

This stubborn refusal mirrors similar instances of Israel's disobedience throughout their history, often leading to severe consequences. It echoes the hardening of hearts seen in the wilderness generation (Psalm 95:8) and stands in stark contrast to the principle that obedience is better than sacrifice.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 44:16 serves as a stark warning about the dangers of a hardened heart and the human tendency to rationalize disobedience. It highlights:

• The peril of selectively hearing God's word, choosing to accept only what is convenient and rejecting what is challenging or uncomfortable.
• The importance of discerning and obeying God's voice, even when it goes against our desires, cultural norms, or what seems pragmatically beneficial in the short term.
• The truth that true faith involves not just acknowledging God's existence, but actively submitting to His will and commands.
• The severe consequences of persistent rebellion against divine truth, as seen in the ultimate fate of this defiant remnant. We are called to be doers of the word, and not hearers only.