“But in the mid autumn, Ishmael son of Nethaniah and grandson of Elishama, who was a member of the royal family and had been one of the king’s high officials, went to Mizpah with them to meet Gedaliah. While they were eating together, Ishmael and his ten men suddenly jumped up, drew swords, and killed Gedaliah, whom the king of Babylon had appointed governor. Ishmael also killed all the Judeans and the Babylonian soldiers who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah.” Jeremiah 41:1-3 NLT
It is hard to say which is more astonishing – God’s permitting or man’s ability to commit such acts as found in this chapter. The bloody acts committed here are done by men who by their birth, should have been men or honour, coming from within the royal family. In addition to that, theses actions were done upon those of their own nation and their own religion – without provocation and in cold blood.
But God permitted this for the completing of the ruin of an unhumbled people. We have here the contrast between the wickedness of man and the righteousness of our Lord. The Lord’s word is true and He is constant. That which He says will one day come to pass.
May we be in awe of the One who permits the evil acts and not the one who commits the evil acts. For one day we will all appear before the Judge, and those that believe that they can bribe death with their treasures in the field (verse 8), will find themselves deceived.
Lock Your Wings 
This stood out for me: “The other ten had talked Ishmael into letting them go by promising to bring him their stores of wheat, barley, olive oil, and honey that they had hidden away.”
Jeremiah 41:8 NLT
To me it was interesting that these tea found a way to survive…couldn’t Ishmael have just taken their wealth if he killed them? Were these ten just wealthier than the others? Where (And why?!) do you hide wheat, barley, olive oil, and honey? Were they just schmoozers who could talk Ishmael out of his plan? Or was this just the remnant intended to be left behind?
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