This passage disturbs me. I don't
like reading it. The destruction set out
doesn't seem to fit with the God I know and love. And I certainly wouldn't be comfortable with
a non-believing friend reading it. What
kind of monster would they consider my God?
What kind of monster would they consider me?
As I let the words and message sit with me, I thought of the
consequences that ensue when I don't follow God's advice, when we don't love
our neighbours, or when the human race only looks out for Number One. For example, we fund corruption through
ignorance, we wreak famine on foreign lands through our own greed, and we tear
our families apart through anger, jealousy and resentment. Sadly, the consequences God explains to
Jeremiah don't seem so alien after all.
I looked into the context of this passage a little. Some suggest that the use of an earthen pot
in Chapter 32 is significant. Just as
God uses the image of smashing a pot to illustrate his judgment, he also uses a
pot to illustrate his mercy. For the pot
described in Chapter 32 is to house the deeds to the field that Jeremiah buys,
the field that indicates to God's people that despite the destruction, there
will be good times ahead when they can invest, plant and know God's blessing.
Nevertheless, this passage still makes me uncomfortable. But I now hope that this discomfort will be
constructive. I want it to remind me of
sin's consequences and to inspire me to keep orienting my heart in the right
direction, that is, towards our powerful, just God, who is rich in mercy and
works for our good.
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