Jeremiah 44:1

 Jeremiah 44:1 says, The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews which dwell in the land of Egypt, which dwell at Migdol, and at Tahpanhes, and at Noph, and in the country of Pathros, saying,  Verse two adds, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Ye have seen all the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, and upon all the cities of Judah; and, behold, this day they are a desolation, and no man dwelleth therein,  God's word came to Jeremiah concerning the Jews who had fled to Egypt and were dispensed throughout Egypt.  Jeremiah was to go to them and remind them of the desolation that God had brought on Jerusalem and the cities of Judah.  Verse three continues, Because of their wickedness which they have committed to provoke me to anger, in that they went to burn incense, and to serve other gods, whom they knew not, neither they, ye, nor your fathers.  Jeremiah was to also remind them that it was because of their idolatry that this had happened.  Like them, people today cannot follow false gods, especially those who claim to be His people, and expect to not suffer God's punishment for it.  Verse four states, Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate.  God said that He sent them prophets who rose up early to call on the people of Judah, a part of God's chosen people, to not commit this abomination of idolatry.  God still sends people today, those who are followers of Christ, to call on others to follow Him and to not chase after other false gods.  Verse five adds, But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense unto other gods.  God said that they did not listen, just as many people today refuse to listen to the gospel when it is presented to them.  Verse six continues, Wherefore my fury and mine anger was poured forth, and was kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; and they are wasted and desolate, as at this day.  God said 8t was because the people of Judah refused to obey Him that He destroyed their land.  God gives everyone plenty of opportunities to accept salvation, and if they don't, it is their responsibility for facing His punishment, which will be an everlasting punishment.  Verse seven declares, Therefore now thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; Wherefore commit ye this great evil against your souls, to cut off from you man and woman, child and suckling, out of Judah, to leave you none to remain;  God said that since they committed these sins that they were cut off from Judah, and especially the prosperous Judah that had been when they obeyed God.   Verse eight adds, In that ye provoke me unto wrath with the works of your hands, burning incense unto other gods in the land of Egypt, whithser ye be gone to dwell, that ye might cut yourselves off, and that ye might be a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth?  God said that even in Egypt that the people of Judah still worshipped false gods and had become a reproach among the nations.  If we profess to be Christians and allow idolatry to come into our lives, we are also a reproach to the world.  Verse nine asks, Have ye forgotten the wickedness of your fathers, and the wickedness of the kings of Judah, and the wickedness of their wives, and your own wickedness, and the wickedness of your wives, which they have committed in the land of Judah, and in the streets of especially Jerusalem?  God asked these remaining Jews if they  had forgotten the sins committed by the kings and people of Judah that God had destroyed for their wickedness.  We should learn from the examples of God's dealing with sin in the past.  Sin has not changed, nor has God's punishment of sin.  Still, we have Someone even greater than a prophet to call us to repentance and provide us with forgiveness, and that is Jesus Christ.   Verse ten continues, They are not humbled even unto this day, neither have they feared, nor walked in my law, nor in my statutes, that I set before you and before your fathers.  God said the people of Judah and those who were now scattered throughout Egypt refused to listen to and obey His word.  This will always be the choice that every individual must ultimately make.