Jeremiah 44:16 “We will not listen to the message you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord!

I think everyone has an image in their mind of a small (we hope!) child who does not want to be told what to do, covering their ears with their hands and making noise in an effort to block all incoming sounds. At some level that makes us smile, but it is an image that also makes us uncomfortable. At least it should.

The Lord had long ago sent Moses to deliver Israel out of the slavery of Egypt. Before entering the Promised Land, He had told them what He expected of them. They were to serve Him only. Leave the gods of their neighbors behind. On this account they had an im-perfect track record to say the least! But God was merciful and sent prophets to them to warn them off of their disobedient path. These prophets were ignored and sometimes killed.

This pattern was repeated until finally God sent the Babylonians to conquer them. Us- ing Jeremiah and others, He had told them they would be taken from the land they loved and be in exile 70 years to learn obedience to God. And it had happened just as they were told it would. But some were left behind. These had come to Jeremiah just a few chapters prior to today’s passage and asked him for a word from the Lord. But really they only wanted a word that confirmed their own ideas. So they decided upon a plan or action: they would go back to Egypt! And they dragged Jeremiah along with them.

But Jeremiah didn’t quit prophesying. He didn’t quit preaching. They wanted him to. They were no longer interested in his messages. But that didn’t stop him. Finally the people told him, “We’re not listening!” I imagine them with their hands over their ears and saying that loudly! They told Jeremiah that idolatry wasn’t the problem; it was that they didn’t do enough for their false gods! Even this didn’t silence Jeremiah. He told them their would be no more mercy. They had finally convinced God that they were not interested in His ways. Destruction was all that was left.

It’s not hard to find people today that say things like, “A loving God would never send people to hell.” Or some variant of that. However, that’s a lie that people tell themselves rather than listening to His Word. God is a loving God. His mercy is evident every day. It is His desire that all people, come to Him. But He will accept them only on His terms. Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father, but by Me.”

Far too many people don’t want to hear God’s Word. They’d rather create a version of God that they are more comfortable with. Rather than read the Bible and take God at His word, they pick and choose what they like. But if we reject what God says and opt to follow our own ideas, that is idolatry. And God hates idolatry. He will punish idolatry. He has provided a way of escape, but it’s HIs way. It’s the only way. It’s not a pleasant thought, but it is God’s Word!

Blessings

Pastor Russ