Jeremiah 41:10

 Jeremiah 41:10 says, Then Ishmael carried away captive all the residue of the people that were in Mizpah, even the king’s daughters, and all the people that remained in Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had committed to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam: and Ishmael the son of Nethaniah carried them away captive, and departed to go over to the Ammonites.  Those that he didn't kill, Ishmael was carrying away captive to the Ammorites, including two of the king’s daughters.  These would have been the poor people who had been given the vineyards and land to utilize.   Matthew Henry says that Ishmael was probably going to give them to the Ammonites as a present and that it is a warning that we should never become to secure in our circumstances.  Verse eleven states, But when Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, heard of all the evil that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had done,  Verse twelve adds, Then they took all the men, and went to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and found him by the great waters that are in Gibeon.  When Johanan and the captains of the guard heard what Ishmael had done, they went after him and his forces.  If Gedaliah had listened to Johanan when he warned him about Ishmael, this would not have happened.  If we do not listen to God's warnings today, we should not be surprised if destruction comes in our life.  Verse thirteen declares, Now it came to pass, that when all the people which were with Ishmael saw Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, then they were glad.  When the people with Ishmael saw Johanan and his forces coming, they were glad.  They may have been the enemy forces, but they were better than Ishmael.  Sometimes, we may have to choose the lesser of two evils, even if it still does not bring us complete freedom in the world.  Of course,  if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, then we are always spirituality free from the power of sin.  Verse fourteenth adds, So all the people that Ishmael had carried away captive from Mizpah cast about and returned, and went unto Johanan the son of Kareah.  Those who were being taken away captive did not wait for Johanan and his forces to get there, but turned around and ran toward them.  Likewise, when we realize sin has come into our life, we need to turn around and run to God for deliverance.  Verse fifteen states, But Ishmael the son of Nethaniah escaped from Johanan with eight men, and went to the Ammonites.  Ishmael didn't stay to fight, but took eight men with him and fled to the Ammonites.  Ishmael may have felt powerful when fighting defenseless people, but he ran from those who were powerful.  We need to remember that as Christians we are never powerless and that God will always deliver us from the forces of evil, if not in this life, then in the one to come.  Verse sixteen adds, Then took Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, all the remnant of the people whom he had recovered from Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, from Mizpah, after that he had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, even mighty men of war, and the women, and the children, and the eunuchs, whom he had brought again from Gibeon:  Verse seventeen continues, And they departed, and dwelt in the habitation of Chimham, which is by Bethlehem, to go to enter into Egypt,  Johanan did not return the people to where they had been under the peaceful rule of Gedaliah, but took them to Egypt instead.   Verse eighteen concludes, Because of the Chaldeans: for they were afraid of them, because Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon made governor in the land.  Johanan did this because he was afraid of what the Chaldeans would do because of what Ishmael had done. The people still were not free, just as we cannot find spiritual freedom anywhere but in faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.