“Enough!” I can only imagine and think, that perhaps this is what God told Jeremiah, when He continued to tell him, “Pray no more for these people, Jeremiah. Do not weep or pray for them, and don’t beg me to help them, for I will not listen to you. Don’t you see what they are doing throughout the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? No wonder I am so angry!” God continues, “I will pour out my terrible fury on this place. Its people, animals, trees, and crops will be consumed by the unquenchable fire of my anger.”
Trust me, I wouldn’t want to be on any end of God’s fury! Judah’s persistent disobedience and idolatry exceeded the tolerance level that God had placed. Enough was enough! God told them, “When I led your ancestors out of Egypt, it was not burnt offerings and sacrifices I wanted from them. This is what I told them,’Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Do everything as I say, and all will be well!'”
God’s request seems simple enough. But the people made it difficult for themselves to follow. This is still the same even today. As believers, we find it so difficult to live as God would want us to. It’s as the Lord said, “But my people would not listen to me.” That’s one of the problems we face – not listening. If we did, we’d be able to understand, focus, and actually do what we should because we would recognize what we’re all about.
The Lord continued, “They kept doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts.” The subtle charade of how right and wrong is defined has been a growing perplexity for many “trying to be” Christians! Get rid of the “trying to” and make it “be!”
God said, “They went backward instead of forward.” Even today, many of us do that. For whatever reason, we go back and never encounter the will of God for our life; so it’s not possible to go forward. Living for God isn’t an enigma; it’s a commitment!
God continues, “I have continued to send my servants, the prophets–day in and day out. But my people have not listened to me or even tried to hear.” Today, we can go to church on Sunday, maybe to appease our conscience and live however during the rest of the week. The teachings and sermons are preached and taught but as soon as we get home we don’t remember for the obvious, ” we don’t listen!”
This was Judah’s problem and, they did not want to change. Eventually, they met up with God’s wrath. They cried, and they wept but it was too late.
“This is what the Lord says: “don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power., or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the Lord have spoken!”
If you obey me, I will be your God. Jeremiah 11:4
My view? It is so worth it!
ritasalomon 