Jeremiah and Job seem to be like brothers. They both have problems with why God doesn’t act the way Jeremiah and Job need God to act. But look what happens from verse 18. God’s gets into the conversation with Jeremiah and shakes him up. It’s as though he is saying to Jeremiah: “Listen, my prophet! I need you to speak MY words, not yours. It’s not about YOU; it’s about ME—God. So hang in there. Keep quiet and hold your tongue until I tell you to speak. I love you. You’re my chosen special spokesman for others. You’re the man! But you need to trust me no matter what. In that way, you’ll keep your eyes on me and not on your troubles.”
Imagine that you are Jeremiah. What would you answer God at the end of today’s passage, at verse 21?
Mondays are dedicated to the reading of the Hebrew Prophets.
This year in the season of Lent we read selections from Jeremiah 1—17.
These Firestarters are from a new edition of The Bible Through the Seasons being developed for families with children. For the Firestarters in the original edition, I recommend the ebook. You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or table! Check the menu options at the site for more information.
The Bible Through the Seasons 