"God's Intent? That We Repent!"

Scripture Passage

Jeremiah 25:15-38; Jeremiah 36:1-32; Jeremiah 45-46:28

Scripture Focus

“Perhaps the people of Judah will repent when they hear again all the terrible things I have planned for them. Then I will be able to forgive their sins and wrongdoings.” (Jeremiah 36:3 NLT)

Observation

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As an aside, I love the imagery evoked by the words of Jeremiah. To Egypt, regarding an impending attack by Babylonia, Jeremiah says…

Egypt is as sleek as a beautiful young cow,
     but a horsefly from the north is on its way!
                             (Jeremiah 46:20 NLT)

Is that not a great picture? Does that not make you smile?

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I’m surprised again today by the ignorance of Judah’s religious leaders regarding both God’s expectations for them and the promise of judgment if they fail to follow God’s ways. This was all clearly spelled out in the covenant Israel made with God at Mt. Sinai (though it’s clear that the spiritual leaders didn’t exactly keep that paperwork on the top of the stack, so to speak). Beyond that, Jeremiah has repeatedly warned Judah of impending judgment. However, when Jeremiah compiles all those warnings into one document and sends those warnings via Baruch to the people of Judah, the religious leaders seem taken aback by the news!

When they heard all the messages, they looked at one another in alarm. “We must tell the king what we have heard,” they said to Baruch. (Jeremiah 36:16 NLT)

At least they were alarmed. Jehoiakim couldn’t have cared less:

Neither the king nor his attendants showed any signs of fear or repentance at what they heard. (Jeremiah 36: 24 NLT)

The ignorance of the religious leaders is astonishing; the disregard of the king even more so; but most astonishing of all? God’s graciousness, which exceeds all comprehension. For all the warnings He’s already sent, and all the times He’s already been gracious, God’s intent in warning Judah “one more time” is that they might repent so that He might forgive!

“Perhaps the people of Judah will repent when they hear again all the terrible things I have planned for them. Then I will be able to forgive their sins and wrongdoings.” (Jeremiah 36:3 NLT)

It's remarkable beyond words—there is no God like Jehovah!

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