The heeding of such flattering prophecies would have led to fatal moves on the part of the king and the exiles, and would have frustrated the merciful designs of God in their behalf. Lest an insurrection be incited and great suffering ensue, the Lord commanded Jeremiah to meet the crisis without delay, by warning the king of Judah of the sure consequence of rebellion. The captives also were admonished, by written communications, not to be deluded into believing their deliverance near. "Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you," he urged. Jeremiah 29:8. In this connection mention was made of the Lord's purpose to restore Israel at the close of the seventy years of captivity foretold by His messengers.

Hvis judæerne havde rettet sig efter disse smigrende profetier, ville det have fået skæbnesvangre følger for både kongen og de landflygtige, og Guds nådige planer med dem, ville være blevet kuldkastet. For at forebygge et oprør og de store lidelser, som dette ville medføre, befalede Herren, at Jeremias omgående skulle imødegå krisen ved at advare Judas konge om et oprørs uundgåelige følger. De landflygtige blev advaret skriftligt imod at lade sig forlede til at tro, at deres befrielse var nær. "Lad ikke de profeter, som er iblandt eder, eller eders spåmænd bilde eder noget ind," formanede Han. Jer. 29,8. I denne forbindelse blev det nævnt, at det var Herrens hensigt at lade israelitterne vende tilbage til deres land ved slutningen af de halvfjerds års fangenskab, som hans sendebud havde forudsagt.