Hedged in by God

If God wants to put us in a situation from which we cannot get out, He can.(Lamentations 3:7) Jeremiah experienced that as God's prophet to Judah before, during, and after the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians. He was one of the only people, if not the only one, pointing people to the Lord and to obeying His directions. Because of this, He was hated, persecuted, jailed, and even thrown into a terrible dungeon filled with mire. He kept calling out to the Lord, but there was no relief for long time periods of time. He became depressed to the point of keeping silent, but God's Word was like a fire in his chest, so that he could not hold it in. However, through this whole experience, He knew that it was God's mercies that kept him from being consumed, and that God was completely faithful to Him.(Lamentations 3:22-24) So, why does God hedge us in, even when we are being faithful to Him?

God knows how to bring us to the point where all we can do is to trust Him. He hedges us in to lead us to trust Him more, and to know that no matter what happens He is faithful. When we sin, sometimes, He hedges us in to get us to admit our sin, and to cry out to Him in faith. God's hedge is a tool to show us He is All-powerful, and we can't fight against Him and win. It is not comfortable, but it is for our good.

Let's all learn this lesson, so that when we find ourselves hedged in by God, we will not get angry, but we will gladly surrender to the Compassionate, Faithful God who will lead us and deliver us like He did Jeremiah, if we will just be faithful to endure to the end.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Ezekiel 1-3.