SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 46-49
Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant, for I am with you,” declares the Lord. Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only in due measure; I will not let you go entirely unpunished.” (Jeremiah 46:28)
Many people are uncomfortable with all the judgments in the reading.
Against, Egypt, Moab, Edom, and all the rest… why is God so angry, why is God so mean?
This simplistic response fails to recognize how bad things were in those days.
God is not randomly destroying innocent people, just because He loves Israel.
Israel represents any and all who live innocently in an otherwise twisted, messed up world.
And not perfectly innocent, because even they have failed God and hurt others in many ways.
These words represents God’s judgment against the truly wicked, and His promise to the truly innocent.
It is because God loves the world that He purges evil, judges the wicked.
Even in Moab (48:47) Ammon (49:6) and Elam (49:39) there will be survivors.
Yes, the process of judgment is not easy, and innocent people are caught in the storm themselves.
Like Jesus, they too suffer… but they are vindicated, and they rise up.
To all those who are struggling in this twisted, messed up world, who seem to suffer while the wicked seem to prosper, ‘Do not be afraid, for God is with you!’
You will not be completely destroyed (the wicked will), you will survive this!
‘Do not be afraid, for I am with you!’
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, life is not easy in this twisted, messed up world. But it is comforting to know that You are doing something about real evil, and that You are protecting the ‘innocent’ through it all.