But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah, “Don’t do such a thing! What you are saying about Ishmael is not true.” – Jeremiah 40:16

Today's Scripture Reading (July 22, 2023): Jeremiah 40

Tokyo Rose was the name given to a series of women who gave false English language war updates during World War II on Radio Tokyo. Radio Tokyo would play the music that the Allied soldiers might want to hear, but the price of admission for the music was these false reports about the war. These reports would give false updates on various battles, as well as things they tried to suggest were happening at home, such as your wives having affairs and the economy and society failing. The point of these reports was to demoralize American troops, hoping to get some to defect from the war to take care of things happening back home.

The most famous of these women was probably Iva Toguri, who went by the name of Orphan Ann, probably trying to capitalize on the comic strip “Little Orphan Annie.” The difference with Orphan Ann is that she seemed to take this practice over the top, purposely making it so ridiculous that, she hoped, no one would believe anything she said. Her Japanese handlers missed her message's substance without knowing English innuendo and tone. Toguri, an American citizen and the daughter of Japanese immigrants was found guilty of treason, although it doesn’t appear that she did the things for which she was convicted. As a result, she was pardoned by President Gerald Ford and died in Chicago in 2006.

But the Tokyo Rose broadcasters opened up a genuine question. Who can we trust? Are people trustworthy because they speak our language and sound like us? Are they trustworthy because they believe similar things? I am continually amazed by those that people decide that they trust. And often, I must admit that I disagree, but then again, they probably marvel at who I trust.

Gedaliah was warned that Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, planned to assassinate him. Gedaliah disagreed. For whatever reason, Gedaliah trusted Ishmael. Gedaliah, the descendant of scribes, probably believed that he and Ishmael, a descendant of Jewish royalty, were on the same page and trying to accomplish the same thing; rebuilding a country. Gedaliah couldn’t imagine why Ishmael would want him dead.

But Ishmael was not on the same page. He spoke the language but, much like some of the women who played the part of Tokyo Rose, wanted to accomplish something quite different from the governor. Ishmael may have been angry because, as a Jewish prince, Ishmael believed he should have been made governor instead of Gedaliah. Or he may have been working for a foreign government that wanted Gedaliah out of the way. Either way, Gedaliah had trusted someone who didn’t deserve his trust. 

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 41