Jeremiah 12:1-17

👉 The Question (v 1-4)

It’s the age old question, isn’t it?

“Why do the wicked prosper and thrive?”

It seems to me as if Jeremiah was pleading with the Lord at this point.

“They don’t know you,” he prayed.

“But you, o Lord, know me.”

I don’t know about you, but there is a place in me that feels that deeply.

Jeremiah believed that the Lord knew him and saw him and that his heart was right before the Lord. And yet, those who claimed to know the Lord but did not, were thriving all around him.

And Jeremiah asked, “Why?”

👉 The Answer (v 5-13)

The Lord answered Jeremiah and essentially told him that it was too soon to be weary because things would get worse.

Have you ever gotten an answer and regretted ever asking the question?

Jeremiah was told that the safe land in which he resided would become a thicket and even those closest to him would betray him.

The Lord had:

• forsaken his house
• abandoned his heritage
• given the people over to their enemies
• devoured them

👉 And Yet… (v 16-17)

The final word with God is not condemnation but compassion.

If – the people (both God’s people and their neighbors) would learn the ways of God and swear by his name…

Then – they would again be built up.

Hope. Right there in the middle of “it’s going to get worse before it gets better”.

God doesn’t sugarcoat the reality – the consequences of the people’s behavior. But he never leaves them hopeless.

Whatever is weighing heavy on you today. Whatever burden you bear. Whatever pain has wedged itself into your heart.

It’s too soon to grow weary.

And it may very well get worse before it gets better.

But – if you are faithful to the end – the Lord is building something beautiful in you and through you.

In the words of Paul, “I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

You are very loved.