Reading: Jeremiah 45-48
But fear not thou, O My servant Jacob, and be not dismayed, O Israel: for, behold, I will save thee from afar off, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and be in rest and at ease, and none shall make him afraid. Fear thou not, O Jacob My servant, saith the Lord: for I am with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee: but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished (Jer. 46:27-28).
And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord, Israel is My son, even my firstborn (Ex. 4:22). Before drawing them out of the land of Egypt, God publicly acknowledged Israel as His child. Not simply His creation, His child. Tucked away as it is in the somewhat repetitive appearances of Moses before Pharoah, the significance of this verse can be easily missed. From that moment on, then unto forever, Israel belonged to God—because God said so. For the Lord will not forsake His people for His great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the Lord to make you His people (I Sam. 12:22). God does not take attacks on His children lightly. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh (Matt. 18:6-7)!
Chapter 46 of the Book of Jeremiah warns of the Lord’s imminent judgment of Egypt. It tells of how the mighty, arrogant nation would be brought to her knees by the Babylonians, driven back, and permanently removed as a world power. Go up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt: in vain shalt thou use many medicines; for thou shalt not be cured (Jer. 46:11). Egypt had by turns oppressed and tempted Israel to turn from God’s path; therefore, His judgment of Egypt had no escape clause, no mercy to soften the blow. Both Egypt and Israel faced judgment, but only God’s child would be redeemed.
When God claimed kinship with the nation of Israel, He wasn’t elevating one human bloodline above all others; He was forming the basis for the body of Christ. Israel belonged to God, but not everyone born an Israelite belonged to God’s Israel. Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel (Rom. 9:6). Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham (Gal. 3:7). For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:26). Members of the body of Christ now stand before God, recipients of His long-ago promise. Fear thou not...for I am with thee...I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure. Imperfect and unworthy though we are, we emerged on the right side of judgment the moment we surrendered all to Christ. For the rest of our earthly lives, God will direct, correct, and chastise us, remolding us in His image. In the end, He will bring us home. We are His children; by Him, we are redeemed.
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty (II Cor. 6:17-18).
Thought for Today: God may allow the wicked to test us, but they are afforded no mercy by doing so.
Christ Revealed: As the One who lovingly corrects His people (Jer. 46:28). Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth (disciplines), and scourgeth (whips) every son whom He receiveth (Heb. 12:6).
Word Studies: 46:4 brigandines = armor; 46:11 daughter = people; 48:2 be cut down = perish; 48:10 deceitfully = negligently; half-heartedly; 48:19 espy = watch; 48:41 Kerioth is = Cities are.
Pray for Staff: Gilbert Palafox •Government Officials: Gov. Kathy Hochul (NY), Rep. Mary Miller (IL) •Country: Austria (8,223,062) Central Europe • Major Language: German • Religious Freedom • 73.6% Catholic; 4.7% Protestant; 4.2% Muslim; 3.5% Other; 2% Unspecified; 12% None • Prayer Suggestion: Remember that God delights in your joy (Ps. 43:4).
Optional Reading:Revelation 1