November 8, 2006 - Jeremiah 43-45 and Hebrews 5
Jeremiah 43-45 shows us why people can get so disoriented to God and to His ways. This happens all of the time, so we need to be sensitive to what causes it. We need to resolve not to fall into these traps, so that we do not become disoriented to God and miss His way for our lives.
The main cause of becoming disoriented to God is pride. (43:2) Pride makes us think that we know what is best and what is right. It makes us argue with God. God had spoken clearly to Israel through Jeremiah. They needed to accept God's punishment, and realize that Babylon was His instrument to punish them. However, they would not accept God's Word. They thought that all of this was a plot to turn them over to Babylon to be killed. (43:4) Therefore, they tried to run away from their problems by going to Egypt. (43:7) God informed them that they could not hide from Him by having Jeremiah hide the stones. Then, chapter 44 makes it clear that they would not listen to God. (44:5) They went back to worshiping idols in Egypt. They thought that they had problems because they had stopped worshiping idols. (44:17) This thought process came because of pride, but there was another mistake. They thought the good life was having enough to eat and not having problems. (44:17b) God had told them that His goal for them was to be holy. They were focusing on the flesh, but God was focusing on their spirit. Therefore, God had to punish them severely. He could not have allowed them to return to the promised land, because they would have taken their idolatry back with them. Maybe, God can't bless you today because you are disoriented to Him and you have chosen sin over holiness. I urge you to put aside your pride and listen to God's Word to you. Life is not food and fun. Life is serious. It is our preparation for eternity. How are you doing?
Hebrews 5 underscores our need to understand the things of God. The author tells us that the believers then were not ready for meat, but they could only take milk. (v.12-14) What is the Lord saying to us? He wants to show us the profound truths about Jesus being our High Priest, so He can save us and walk with us through life, but if we are disoriented to the things of God, we won't understand. We can only take the easy things to understand, which is the milk of God's Word. God wants to take us on to the meat, because the meat is what really satisfies us. Are you eating the meat or only drinking the milk?
Tomorrow, I intend to read Jeremiah 46-47 and Hebrews 6.
The main cause of becoming disoriented to God is pride. (43:2) Pride makes us think that we know what is best and what is right. It makes us argue with God. God had spoken clearly to Israel through Jeremiah. They needed to accept God's punishment, and realize that Babylon was His instrument to punish them. However, they would not accept God's Word. They thought that all of this was a plot to turn them over to Babylon to be killed. (43:4) Therefore, they tried to run away from their problems by going to Egypt. (43:7) God informed them that they could not hide from Him by having Jeremiah hide the stones. Then, chapter 44 makes it clear that they would not listen to God. (44:5) They went back to worshiping idols in Egypt. They thought that they had problems because they had stopped worshiping idols. (44:17) This thought process came because of pride, but there was another mistake. They thought the good life was having enough to eat and not having problems. (44:17b) God had told them that His goal for them was to be holy. They were focusing on the flesh, but God was focusing on their spirit. Therefore, God had to punish them severely. He could not have allowed them to return to the promised land, because they would have taken their idolatry back with them. Maybe, God can't bless you today because you are disoriented to Him and you have chosen sin over holiness. I urge you to put aside your pride and listen to God's Word to you. Life is not food and fun. Life is serious. It is our preparation for eternity. How are you doing?
Hebrews 5 underscores our need to understand the things of God. The author tells us that the believers then were not ready for meat, but they could only take milk. (v.12-14) What is the Lord saying to us? He wants to show us the profound truths about Jesus being our High Priest, so He can save us and walk with us through life, but if we are disoriented to the things of God, we won't understand. We can only take the easy things to understand, which is the milk of God's Word. God wants to take us on to the meat, because the meat is what really satisfies us. Are you eating the meat or only drinking the milk?
Tomorrow, I intend to read Jeremiah 46-47 and Hebrews 6.