Jeremiah 40:1 – 45:5 (Continued)

December 06, 2011

"We will not listen to the message from the LORD that you spoke to us. We promised to make sacrifices to the Queen Goddess, and we will certainly do everything we promised." 

Wow. They were set in their ways. They were determined not to listen to what the LORD said, and they were just as determined to do exactly what the LORD said He hated and would bring them ruin. Why is it people can be totally devoted to doing what is wrong and yet be so totally determined not to do what is right—submit to God's authority? The answer, or at least one answer, is pride. It's all about the center letter—"I." I will decide. I will determine. I will be in charge. I will be in control. I will choose who/what I believe. I will not submit.

The people went on to say that when they worshiped the Queen Goddess in the past everything went well with them but when they stopped they had great problems. "Our people have also been killed in war and by hunger." Hello!?! The LORD has clearly told them over and over again that is precisely what would happen if they don't submit to Him and obey His commands. And yet here they are attributing what has happened to them as being a result of not worshiping the Queen Goddess. They even say they and their ancestors always did this while living in Jerusalem and, "We had plenty of food and were successful, and nothing bad happened to us." They totally missed the point.

Jeremiah 5:21 - "They have eyes, but they don't really see. They have ears, but they don't really hear."
Jeremiah 8:5 - "...They believe their own lies and refuse to turn around and come back."
Jeremiah 32:33 - "They turned their backs to me, not their faces. I tried to teach them again and again, but they wouldn't listen or learn."

In their insistence in being their own "god" they totally missed "hearing" God's Words and totally missed out on the peace, salvation, forgiveness, contentment, blessings, rewards, etc. that God was willing and waiting to give them.

Then Jeremiah responded to them. The LORD remembered:

• The LORD remembered how you worshiped "gods"
• He remembered and thought about it
• He could not be patient any longer
• He hated the terrible things you did
• He destroyed your country and made it an empty desert

All this happened because:

• You burned incense to other gods
• You sinned against the Lord
• You did not obey Him
• You did not follow His teachings
• You did not follow the laws He gave you
• You did not keep your agreement

Jeremiah 44:23 - "So this disaster has happened to you. It is there for you to see."

Then Jeremiah spoke the LORD's words again. You've done what you said you were going to do. You said, "We will certainly keep the promises we made. We promised to make sacrifices to the Queen Goddess and to pour out drink offerings to her. So, go ahead. Do the things you promised and keep your promises. But hear the word of the LORD."

Listen! Listen to what I the LORD have to say. The LORD says, "I have sworn by my great name: (they) will never again say... 'As surely as the LORD God lives...' I am watching over them, not to take care of them, but to hurt them." Everything I said would happen, will happen. So those that went to Egypt for help will be destroyed by war or hunger. A few will escape, THEN they will know "if my word or their word came true." I will give you a sign, "When you see it happen, you will know that my promises to hurt you will really happen." You thought you would be safe by hiding in Egypt. Well...you aren't. What you don't know is that the king of Egypt has enemies and I am going to hand him over to them. Your great plan isn't going to work.

I never want to hear God say, "I am watching over you to hurt you." We always think of God as being a God of love and grace, and He is. But the God of love and grace is also a God of discipline and judgment. I want to live—no—I choose to live my life in a way that brings God's watchful eye over me to care for me. I want to hear, "Well done thou good and faithful servant." I choose to surrender to His Throne. 

My prayer is that those who come after me will choose to surrender as well.

Addendum:  8/14/15 ~  From the Life Lesson for this section:

"When you persevere through a trial, God gives you a special measure of insight. You become the recipient of the favor of God as He gives to you something that would not be learned otherwise." ~ From Wisdom for the Way by Charles Swindoll

We certainly can attest to that statement. We could not have learned all that we have learned without persevering through the tough times in our lives. It is why we can now say that we are grateful for this long journey we have been on. We have come to understand that we are NOT the victims of difficult circumstances. We are the recipients of a Blessed Event!! And we are grateful.


Next Entry: Jeremiah 46:1 – 49:39