October 24

Jeremiah 44:24-47:7; 2 Timothy 2:22-3:17; Psalm 94:1-23; Proverbs 26:6-8

Many of us will have a hard time reading about all the destruction we see being brought about by the hand of the Lord. Many people read these passages and say, “I could never believe in a God like this,” or “If God is loving, how could he act like this?” Truly, the Lord’s ways and insights are far beyond us as humans, but I do believe there is a lot in the Scriptures that helps us.  Through God's word to us, we can understand his actions and words - even in passages like this - to actually be loving and righteous. Here are a few sections that helped me to see that:

- In Jeremiah 44:24-30, we see God telling the women who insist they will “burn incense and pour out drink offerings to the Queen of Heaven” (vs. 25), that they will indeed get the wrath their actions have incurred. Yesterday we saw God repeatedly warn them to turn away from sacrificing to this idol, but they blatantly told him they were going to do whatever they wanted. They turned their backs on God. We then see God, in love, choose to purge their pattern and habit of evil that will continue to lead Israel astray. He doesn’t leave them in the sin that destroys over and over again. He disciples them out of it.

-Next, we see God speaking words of destruction against Egypt. “The swift cannot flee nor the strong escape….That day belongs to the Lord, the Lord Almighty - a day of vengeance on his foes” (Jer. 46:6, 10). Don’t you want to serve a God of justice who brings about justice to the evil nations that time and time again oppress God’s creation? Or should everyone be able to do whatever they want with no consequences? What kind of loving God would allow that kind of evil and chaos to rule the world he has created? Justice for evil men and nations is a very, very good thing.

-God’s heart is not to destroy and punish forever. He is always looking and planning to relent. He is longing to extend mercy to his people. He wants their hearts to change and be wholly committed to him and his ways, so he disciplines. But his heart is always for their well-being. We see this so clearly in Jeremiah 46:27-28: “Do not fear, O Jacob my servant; do not be dismayed, O Israel. I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile. Jacob will again have peace and security….I will discipline you but only with justice.”

These are hard passages to read, but I think we can truly see the goodness and lovingkindness of our God even in the midst of these hard words. The line we just read, “I will discipline you but only with justice,” sums it up well. It is good that God is a just God. We don’t want evil and destruction to reign. A loving God is one who disciplines his people and the world around them into a right relationship with the One True Living God. Only in following his way do we truly find flourishing and abundance of life.

- Mary Matthias

How did God speak to you in Scripture today? Click here to share your reflections on God's word or read past posts. We'd love to hear from you.