Treasures From God's Word – October 12–18, 2026

Prepared talk

Introduction

Have you ever asked for advice when, deep down, you had already decided what you wanted to do? We may listen carefully, thank the person, and even say that we will consider the counsel. The real test comes when the advice is not what we hoped to hear.

Jeremiah chapters 42 and 43 describe exactly that kind of situation. The remaining Jews were frightened after a series of disasters and wanted to know what to do next. They asked Jeremiah to seek Jehovah’s direction, but their later reaction showed that hearing an answer is not the same as accepting it.

Before fleeing to Egypt, Johanan and the people asked Jeremiah to pray for guidance on their behalf (Jer 42:1-3; it “Johanan” No. 5)

LET'S READ JEREMIAH 42:1-3

The military chiefs and the people approached Jeremiah with a request that sounded sincere. They begged him to pray for them and ask Jehovah to show them the way they should go and what they should do. At that moment, they were acknowledging that they needed guidance beyond their own judgment.

Their circumstances made the request understandable. Jerusalem had been destroyed, Gedaliah had been killed, and the remaining group feared what might happen next. When people feel unsafe, any quick solution can begin to look better than waiting.

What stands out is that they did not initially ask Jeremiah to approve one specific plan. They said that they wanted to know Jehovah’s direction. They even promised to obey whether the answer seemed good or bad to them. Those were excellent words, but their heart would soon be tested.

The same thing can happen in ordinary life. A young person may ask parents or a mature Christian about a dating relationship. A family may seek Bible guidance before making a financial decision or moving. Asking for advice is a good start, but the deeper question is, “Am I looking for direction, or am I looking for approval?”

Jehovah’s answer was clear: Stay in Judah, and do not go to Egypt (Jer 42:9, 10, 19)

LET'S READ JEREMIAH 42:9, 10, 19

Jehovah did not leave the people with a vague answer. He told them to remain in Judah and promised to build them up and care for them there. He also told them directly not to go to Egypt, the very place that looked safer to them.

Why might that answer have been hard to accept? Babylon was the power that had just destroyed Jerusalem. The people feared further trouble, and Egypt may have seemed like a logical escape from the scene of the conflict. From a human viewpoint, staying could feel dangerous while leaving looked sensible.

But Jehovah could see what they could not. He warned that the danger they were trying to escape would catch up with them in Egypt. Their problem was not a lack of information; the issue was whether they would trust what they could calculate or what Jehovah had just told them.

We can face a similar test. A Bible standard may seem inconvenient when compared with a quick solution. Telling the truth may cost money, neutrality may complicate a situation, or ending an unsuitable relationship may hurt. At such times, Jehovah’s direction can be clear and still require real faith.

Waiting was also part of the test. Jeremiah received Jehovah’s answer ten days later. During those days, the people had to live with uncertainty. When we feel anxious, ten days can feel very long, but seeking Jehovah’s guidance means accepting his timing as well as his answer.

The people rejected Jehovah’s direction (Jer 43:4-7)

LET'S READ JEREMIAH 43:4-7

When the answer finally came, Johanan, the chiefs, and the people did the opposite. They went to Egypt and took the others with them, including Jeremiah and Baruch. What makes this especially sad is that they had already promised to obey everything Jehovah said.

Chapter 43 also shows that some accused Jeremiah of lying. That reveals how far an inward decision can go. If Bible direction does not match what I want, I may begin finding fault with the person who points it out or searching for reasons to discredit the counsel.

That is why it helps to examine our heart before asking for guidance. If I accept only counsel that already agrees with me, I am still setting the standard myself. Humility becomes visible when I am willing to change a plan I like because a Bible principle points another way.

Imagine a young sister who wants to date someone who does not share her faith. She asks a mature sister what she thinks and hears clear Bible-based reasons. If her first response is, “Yes, but my situation is different,” the issue may no longer be understanding the counsel; it may be accepting that obedience requires giving up something she wants.

Picture

The picture shows a mature sister talking with a younger sister while they sit in a car. She is showing her a “Young People Ask” article about dating. We do not see an argument; we see a calm conversation and help based on the Bible.

That scene reminds us that Jehovah can guide us through his Word and through mature Christians who use it carefully. The younger sister will still have to make her own decision. The counsel can be loving and clear, but no one else can obey for her.

There is also a lesson for the person giving counsel. The goal is not to impose personal taste or control someone else’s life. The sister uses Bible-based material, keeping the focus on Jehovah’s thinking rather than on “this is what I would do” or “I just do not like that.”

ASK YOURSELF, ‘When I receive Bible-based counsel, do I apply it—even if it’s not what I want to hear?’—w25.07 5 ¶14.

That question deserves a personal answer. I may appreciate counsel while it is comfortable, but the real test comes when it touches my money, friendships, entertainment, work, or a romantic relationship. That is when I can see whether I truly want Jehovah to direct my steps.

One useful habit is to separate my first emotional reaction from my final decision. If counsel bothers me, I do not have to answer immediately. I can thank the person, pray, look up the Bible principle involved, and ask what obedience is likely to produce over time.

I can also ask what I am defending. Am I protecting a Bible principle, or protecting my pride? Do I have new facts that truly affect the decision, or am I looking for an exception that lets me do what I already wanted?

Johanan’s experience shows that asking for direction without intending to obey does not bring safety. The people went to Egypt because they imagined peace there, but Jehovah had warned that this route would not protect them. Obedience may not always look like the easiest path, but it is the path on which we have Jehovah’s approval.

Conclusion

What can we take from this account? First, it is wise to ask for guidance when we are unsure. Second, we need to listen even when the answer challenges our plan. Third, real trust is shown by the concrete changes we make after receiving Bible-based counsel.

The next time we ask for direction, we might ask ourselves one question before we hear the answer: “Am I willing to change if the Bible points me another way?” If the answer is yes, we will not imitate those who asked for guidance and then rejected it. We will show that we trust Jehovah to see farther than we do and that his direction always deserves serious attention.