Jeremiah 10-13

Please note, this entry was originally scheduled for August 1.

What foolishness is demonstrated by all who form their own gods, and who refuse to serve and obey the One God Who made everything!

In chapter 11 the Lord speaks through Jeremiah to condemn His people for disobeying His covenant with them. In Deuteronomy 28 the Lord spoke through Moses, telling Israel of all the blessings they would enjoy if they simply obeyed God’s laws, and all the curses that would come upon them when they refused to obey them. The Lord is putting His people on notice that they have persisted in disobeying His covenant with them, and He was preparing great disasters upon them for what they were doing.

In chapter 12 Jeremiah complains to the Lord about the treachery and wickedness of the people, and asks how long they will be allowed to persecute him. The Lord responds in verse 5, saying “if you have become worn out in struggling with the footmen, how will you be able to run with horses?” In other words, God told him that there was much worse to come, and that he needed to prepare himself for the long run against them in Judah.

The Lord tells Jeremiah in chapter 13 to take a new wrap and travel to the Euphrates river and bury it there, which was a one-way trip of around 500 miles. After some time the Lord tells him to go back and dig it up, and he finds it almost completely destroyed by the water and dirt. God uses this imagery to speak of His plans for Judah, who will be taken away by the Babylonians (located on the Euphrates river), and they will suffer punishment and slavery for their persistent refusal to obey God.