Ishmael son of Nethaniah, who was an official under Israel’s former king, made a deal with the Ammonites to assassinate Gedaliah, the governor of the remnant in Judah (40:14). He carried out his evil plan, murdering Gedaliah while they were eating together. Then, when eighty worshipers came to Mizpah to bring offerings to the Lord, Ishmael lured them into a trap and slaughtered them as well (1-10). This is what wicked men do to terrify the people and gain a hold on power. However, they will not succeed in the end; their crimes will find them out.

Johanan, son of Kareah, a commander of Judah’s armies, mustered an army and pursued Ishmael. They successfully rescued the people Ismael had taken captive, and Ishmael fled (11-15). But now they were afraid of retaliation from the Babylonians for the death of their governor, and so Johanan planned to flee with the remnant of Judah to Egypt (16-18). He should not have given in to fear, even though Gedaliah’s assassination seemed to crush people’s hope for a peaceful life. Though God’s people live in unstable times, God is able to protect and even bless them.
Application: Father, thank you for your judgment on the wicked. Help me to not be terrorized but have courageous faith.
One Word: Be brave when the devil works to plant fear.