KEEPING UP WITH GOD'S GOODNESS
"If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses?" Jer. 12:5, R.S.V.
We "work up" to things. We take algebra before calculus. We try the beginners' ski slope before the more challenging course. Many times, as in the case of young children, just growing up helps. In a similar way God first invites us to walk with Him before He challenges us to run. It is only when we allow everyday circumstances to hinder us that we begin to lag behind. It happened to Jeremiah.
God called Jeremiah to plead with Judah to turn from their corrupt practices that were ruining the nation. He prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem at the hands of Babylonian invaders. However, the people ridiculed him, believing that God would never allow Jerusalem to be destroyed because the Temple was there. The worst of it was that these idolaters were prospering!
Worn down and confused, Jeremiah spilled out his complaints to God. In essence he said, "Why are You blessing these people? Why don't You shake them up? You told me to tell them they're doomed, and then You prosper them! I feel like a fool! It only makes them mock You" (Jer. 12:1-4). In response, God gently chides him, "If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses?" In other words: "If you can't keep up with Me now, how will you catch up later?"
Jeremiah had lost sight of God and His methodology. He's become bogged down by seeing God bless apparently unworthy people. He had forgotten that God has a better way to reach people. "Let him who glories in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth; for in these things I delight" (chap. 9:24, R.S.V.).
God tried to help Jeremiah understand that in showing Judah kindness and tolerance, He meant to lead them and the neighboring nations to a change of heart (chap. 12:14-17; Rom. 2:4, N.E.B.). "I bound all Israel and all Judah to myself, says the Lord, so that they should become my people to win a name for me, and praise and glory; but they did not listen" (chap. 13:11, N.E.B.). Consequently, the surrounding nations that might have been blessed by them became instead their destroyers.
Jeremiah might have looked to the Lord and never gotten weary (Isa. 40:31)! May we learn this lesson.
"If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses?" Jer. 12:5, R.S.V.
We "work up" to things. We take algebra before calculus. We try the beginners' ski slope before the more challenging course. Many times, as in the case of young children, just growing up helps. In a similar way God first invites us to walk with Him before He challenges us to run. It is only when we allow everyday circumstances to hinder us that we begin to lag behind. It happened to Jeremiah.
God called Jeremiah to plead with Judah to turn from their corrupt practices that were ruining the nation. He prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem at the hands of Babylonian invaders. However, the people ridiculed him, believing that God would never allow Jerusalem to be destroyed because the Temple was there. The worst of it was that these idolaters were prospering!
Worn down and confused, Jeremiah spilled out his complaints to God. In essence he said, "Why are You blessing these people? Why don't You shake them up? You told me to tell them they're doomed, and then You prosper them! I feel like a fool! It only makes them mock You" (Jer. 12:1-4). In response, God gently chides him, "If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses?" In other words: "If you can't keep up with Me now, how will you catch up later?"
Jeremiah had lost sight of God and His methodology. He's become bogged down by seeing God bless apparently unworthy people. He had forgotten that God has a better way to reach people. "Let him who glories in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth; for in these things I delight" (chap. 9:24, R.S.V.).
God tried to help Jeremiah understand that in showing Judah kindness and tolerance, He meant to lead them and the neighboring nations to a change of heart (chap. 12:14-17; Rom. 2:4, N.E.B.). "I bound all Israel and all Judah to myself, says the Lord, so that they should become my people to win a name for me, and praise and glory; but they did not listen" (chap. 13:11, N.E.B.). Consequently, the surrounding nations that might have been blessed by them became instead their destroyers.
Jeremiah might have looked to the Lord and never gotten weary (Isa. 40:31)! May we learn this lesson.
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