Susan LaffertyExiles in Babylon.
God’s Word to them felt deeply personal to us. During a particularly violent and unsettling season.
People were leaving our city. Families sent back to their home countries. Anti-American sentiment had ramped up more than ever.
Should we leave?
At one point my dad—who never, ever tried to interfere or direct us in any way—wrote “In my daily Bible study I keep seeing the words, ‘Flee Babylon…flee Babylon.” (Jeremiah 49:30; 50:8,16; 51:6)
One topic frequently showed up in my conversations with neighbors and friends in our season serving in the tropics.
The spirit world.
Most lived their lives governed by underlying fears. And practiced appeasing or diverting evil spirits.
Rituals. Amulets. Power rings. Strategically-placed offerings.
And memorized prayers whispered in Arabic.
Beggars at the gate take their chances.
And decide, whether it means food or death, they’ll surrender.
They’re going to die anyway in the midst of siege and growing scarcity.
So they head to the enemy’s camp.
