“Righteous are You, O LORD, that I would plead my case with You; indeed I would discuss matters of justice with You: Why has the way of the wicked prospered? Why are all those who deal in treachery at ease? You have planted them, they have also taken root; they grow, they have even produced fruit. You are near to their lips but far from their mind” (Jeremiah 12:1–2).
Jeremiah lived in difficult times. Many of his fellow Israelites had become desperately wicked and this frustrated the prophet. His job was to call them to repentance but no one seemed to be listening. In fact, it seemed as if they were being blessed in their rebellion. O sure, they paid lip service to God but He was really the last thing in their minds and hearts. The NET Bible puts it this way: “They always talk about you but they really care nothing about you.”
So Jeremiah vents his frustration to God and calls upon Him to pour out His wrath. “Drag them off like sheep for the slaughter and set them apart for a day of carnage!” (Jeremiah 12:3b). Have you ever felt that way when it seems like the wicked have it made? “Let ‘em have it, Lord! They don’t deserve to be blessed!”
I’m intrigued by God’s answer to Jeremiah. He doesn’t console him with promises to take care of it eventually. Not even a pat on the back for his own faithfulness. Here is what He says: “If you have run with footmen and they have tired you out, then how can you compete with horses? If you fall down in a land of peace, how will you do in the thicket of the Jordan?” (Jeremiah 12:5).
In modern parlance, it’s “Suck it up, buttercup! Put on your big boy pants.” Things were going to get worse and Jeremiah needed to focus on what he was called to do instead of complaining about the state of things. Perhaps there’s a lesson in there for us.
God loves you!
Mike
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