Friday, August 31, 2012 - Jeremiah 40 (part), 41, 42, 43, 44

Friday, August 31, 2012
Jeremiah 40 (part), 41, 42, 43, 44

Today's reading concludes the last words of Jeremiah. Once again, he's
carrying a message of rebuke for those who turn away from God and a
message of restoration for those who obey God. This message is for
those that are left in Judah; the people that weren't exiled to
Babylon. If you recall, God said He would be merciful to the people
that surrendered to Babylon (since obedient submission demonstrated
their trust in God – later, their faith would be rewarded in
restoration) and deal harshly with the ones who stayed in Judah. Be
that as it may, God relents in today's reading and even offers the
people of Judah (the disobedient ones) another chance for life. Before
God presents this offer to Judah, the people even promise to follow
God's orders, whether favorable or unfavorable. Through Jeremiah, God
presents the following:

"If you stay in this land, I will build you up and not tear you down;
I will plant you and not uproot you, for I have relented concerning
the disaster I have inflicted on you. Do not be afraid of the king of
Babylon, whom you now fear. Do not be afraid of him, declares the
LORD, for I am with you and will save you and deliver you from his
hands. I will show you compassion so that he will have compassion on
you and restore you to your land. However, if you say, 'We will not
stay in this land,' and so disobey the LORD your God, and if you say,
'No, we will go and live in Egypt, where we will not see war or hear
the trumpet or be hungry for bread,' then hear the word of the LORD,
you remnant of Judah. This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of
Israel, says: If you are determined to go to Egypt and you do go to
settle there, then the sword you fear will overtake you there, and the
famine you dread will follow you into Egypt, and there you will die."
(Jeremiah 42:10-16)

Unfortunately, after Jeremiah gives this message, the people of Judah
accuse him of being a liar and choose the path that was already set in
their hearts – moving to Egypt – completely against God's commands.

There are several themes that could be covered from today's reading,
but I'd like to concentrate on the character of God. Below is a list
(not exhaustive) of God's character, as it is revealed in today's
reading:

1. God is Forgiving – the people of Israel and Judah turn away from
God time and time again. The whole nation deserves destruction for
their disobedience, but after disciplining, God forgives and restores.
God even ends up saving a remnant of those that flee to Egypt, though
they deserve death.
2. God is Just – God is Omniscience (all-knowing). He knows everyone
that will either embrace or reject Him from the beginning to the end.
The people that perish with their hearts away from God are those that
would have never embraced Him in their lifetime. Their deaths are
just. Those that survive God's disciplining are those that may embrace
the Lord again. Some people need more rebuking than others to turn
towards the Lord. The rebuking people experience, no matter the number
of admonishments, is just.
-"Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; Therefore do not despise
the chastening of the Almighty. For He bruises, but He binds up; He
wounds, but His hands make whole." (Job 5:17-18)
3. God is Compassionate and Saves – God will do everything He can to
make Himself the center of our lives and save us because He loves us.
Quick story – this week I met up with a friend who's homeless. In his
early life, he was a high-class thief. He stole thousands, maybe
millions of dollars worth in jewelry and other merchandise. His heart
was with material possessions, drugs, and women. Over time, God's
rebuke brought him through prison, near death experiences, and now
homelessness. But even throughout these times of disciplining, he made
it clear to me that God was merciful with him. He faced 20 years in
prison, but only had to serve two because he obeyed God. Before the
court, God told him to say nothing in his defense because he was
guilty. He obeyed, paid his lawyers to say nothing, and was sentenced
to just two years. Outside of prison, many people he had wronged were
out to kill him. In one instance, at his worst (had known God, but
turned away from him – turned back to his old sinful ways), five goons
brought him to a lake to off him, but when they got to the lake there
was a cop who ended up arresting all of them. God saved his life that
day despite himself. Now, he's been completely stripped of everything
and has nothing left except God. My friend has assured me that even in
his homelessness, God has met all of his needs. He eats everyday, has
a place to sleep every night, and has fellowship with other believers.
Above all, his heart is with God now and not on the things of this
world. He has incredible peace and joy (despite his circumstances)
because of the presence of God in his life. He broke down crying to me
because of the love and compassion God has shown him all his life.

Remember Deuteronomy 32:36
For the LORD will judge His people
And have compassion on His servants,
When He sees that their power is gone,
And there is no one remaining, bond or free.

When everything else fails, one thing remains, God's love.

God Bless,
Anthony