A group of Judean exiles have sought refuge in Egypt despite the very clear warning from God that they were not to leave Judah. Even if they felt life would be better -- more secure and more comfortable, they were not to leave.
They left.
To make matters worse, they went to Egypt. The defining moment for Israel had been his rescue of the people from Egypt and now they voluntarily return. It is like being rescued by a firefighter from a burning building and then running right back into the same building!
While they are there they begin to worship the gods of Egypt (like this group wasn't lost enough already!).
Against this backdrop, a great assembly of the people is called. Jeremiah is invited. Assemblies of this nature were often used for corporate confession. But shockingly, the people have gathered not to grieve their sin but to reaffirm their rebellion.
Their obstinacy is based on poor history. They reveal to Jeremiah that they never had problems while they worshipped false gods before. It was only when Jeremiah started making noise about stopping that the trouble began. Therefore, they were done with Jeremiah and going back to what worked.
May we never confuse the blessings of God, with the preference of our perspective.
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