Executive Producer

This episode is brought to you in part by Executive Producer, John Anonymous.

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 47-49 NLT, Ch. 50-52 HCSB

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Thoughts

Even though it sometimes looks like God isn’t aware, or doesn’t care about the sins of people and nations, the closing chapters of Jeremiah teach us that He *is* paying attention, and He *will* bring judgement. God sometimes uses bad people to do His will. Now, please DO NOT misunderstand me. I am not saying that God always causes evil people to do the things they do. Far from it. Most of the time, evil people do evil because they are evil. But sometimes, *sometimes* God brings punishment on those He loves through evil people, to bring those He loves back into relationship with Himself. 

We’ve seen that God used Nebuchadnezzar to do that with His chosen people, haven’t we?

But God always brings judgment to evil people. They do not get a free pass, ever. In chapter 46 we heard what judgment God had planned for Egypt. He was going to use the evil king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon this time to bring Egypt down. 

And in chapter 47 we read how the Philistines, who had been such a persistent thorn in the side to Israel, would be defeated in a time that they were soft and weak because they had not been at war for some time. 

Nations and people can never escape the notice of God. He sees all the cruelty and injustice that man brings against man. He hears the cry of the innocents and the victims. And the day is coming when He will bring judgment  to those who do wrong. Perhaps in their own lifetime, perhaps when they stand before Him, but they will certainly know His judgment.

It’s not fun reading about the judgment He will bring. But just imagine how difficult it was to be in Jeremiah’s shoes, being the one chosen to deliver these messages. No wonder he is known as the weeping prophet. It’s so much better to talk about the love of God, His faithfulness, His love, His forgiveness, His grace. But for there to be forgiveness and grace, there must be a turning away from sin. And the people who are under judgment have shown that they have no interest in following the will of the Lord.

In Genesis 6, God said, “My Spirit will not contend with man forever.” God is patient, but He does not wait forever. This is true for nations, and it is true with individuals.

It would be a good thing for each of us, if there is something in our life that we know is not pleasing to God, to come to grips with it and ask for forgiveness and His strength to leave it behind…to get it out of our life.  How terrible it would be to continue to ignore His pleading to turn to Him. How terrible it would be to come to the end of God’s patience.