February 16, Jeremiah 15
Then the LORD said to me, “Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my heart would not turn toward this people. Send them out of my sight, and let them go! And when they ask you, ‘Where shall we go?’ you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Those who are for pestilence, to pestilence, and those who are for the sword, to the sword; those who are for famine, to famine, and those who are for captivity, to captivity.” - Jeremiah 15:1-2
His empty lies, desperate pleading and worthless excuses weren’t working anymore. He hurt her and wounded her spirit. She had relented and taken him back before. But now she could not, would not take it any more. She would not take him back. She would not enable him to deceive and take her for granted again.
He sent a trusted friend to intercede and “talk some sense into her.” She said, “No.” He sent the best man he knew, a man of God, to speak to her heart and persuade her to change her mind. She still said, “No.” He had spoken too harshly, he had hurt her too deeply. He broke her heart and their relationship. There would be no reconciliation this time.
Did that fictional narrative remind you of a situation you’ve known? I hope you’ve never appeared in either role in such a painful drama. If I caused you pain by writing about it, I’m sorry. But I made up the story because an illustration sometimes helps us understand a reality.
The LORD God, his faithful prophet Jeremiah and his unfaithful people in what was left of Israel in Judah were in a very similar situation. But who’s who in my little fictional vignette? Did you get it? God is the betrayed and taken for granted spouse. Judah is the lying habitual offender. Yes, God sent Jeremiah as the last hope for the relationship, to warn and persuade the idolatrous people. He did as he was told and warned them of the disastrous consequences that would come if they did not repent and return to God. The Lord was still willing to forgive and restore the rebels, but he knew they weren’t going to listen and he told Jeremiah so in advance.
But wait, the significant wrinkle in that last comparison is not Jeremiah’s failure to persuade Judah to come back, is it? No. Remember it is God whom Jeremiah could not persuade to change his mind! It’s true that Jeremiah failed to persuade the people. But when God brought up Moses and Samuel, two superstar leaders of Israel, he referred not to their renowned powers to convince the people, but persuade the Lord himself! And he told poor Jeremiah that those two great ones would not be able to change his mind this time. God would relent no more. Judah and Jerusalem were determined to forsake God, and now God was determined to forsake them.
Where would they go? The LORD did not soften the answer. When they would not go back to God, they would go to death and ruin. Some would die by pestilence. Others would fall by the sword. Some would starve to death in the famine. The rest would go into captivity.
What’s your takeaway from this chapter? Please don’t conclude that God was unloving and impatient and quick to destroy these people! He had been the very opposite of those dark things for centuries. This destruction comes only at the end of a long time of God’s long-suffering. Their ruin came after centuries of prophets’ warnings and invitations. God warned and pleaded with them to listen to him and turn away from the idols. But now God’s perfect patience was over; his perfect justice had no choice but to take drastic action against them.
Maybe you’re reading this as a discouraged servant of God. You don’t see that you’ve done any good, despite your efforts to serve and please him. Isn’t it good to know God encourages and promises to strengthen and sustain his loyal servants?
Remember that even our merciful, long- suffering Father’s patience comes to an end. It is not wise or godly to presume upon that mercy and continue to do what we know is wrong. Remember that our sins offends our gracious God’s perfect holiness. When we won’t turn back to him and come home through the atoning work of Christ, his perfect justice demands that we bear the guilt and pay the penalty.
It was too late for Judah. The holiest man among them was unable to persuade them to turn, and finally unable to persuade God to change his mind. The happiest outcome to this story is for us to believe and apply the good news of Christ’s sacrifice to ourselves. My dear friend, have you done that? Have you really turned from sin and submitted to Jesus as Lord? Have you surrendered your will to his, not just in baptism, but in your everyday walk? God help us all to learn and be encouraged to learn from this sad chapter!
Copyright © 2024 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today in God's Word—February 2024
East Tallassee Church of Christ
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