DAY 314
CHARACTER
OR COMPLACENCY
Jeremiah 48 & 49 and Hebrews 7
This is quite the geography lesson in chapters 48
and 49 – and quite the lesson in God’s dealing with these nations – for he is
Lord of all.
Here is a link (I know it is Wikipedia, but is
seems to be the easiest to see):
Rather than address each of these nations, I want
to just look at two. Each one had one or two dominant issues that were often
linked to their land or wealth or history.
Moab, in chapter 48 is a good example. Moab is to
the east of Jerusalem, on the other side of the Dead Sea. Ruth came from Moab. It
had high cliffs for defense and vast flocks, especially sheep—and it was
arrogant. Isaiah mentions it in 16:6 and now Jeremiah in 48:29. Verse 11
captures how Moab has been at ease since its youth—its shelter and abundance
bread complacency not character.
The one other nation I want to highlight is—Ammon, while
Moab was east of Judah/Jerusalem, Ammon was east of Israel and therefore north
of Moab—to God, Moab’s issue was deeper, for it was the home of Molech, the god
of child sacrifice—it too was ultimately destroyed.
Might these two nations invite us to reflect, not
on God destroying us, but rather on two possible issues in our own lives: where
am I complacent and what parts of my life have I set over against God? I know
those are strong questions, but here is what I find. I find that within me,
part of me is “converted” to God—and part of me is not. Sometimes I am just
complacent and for whatever reason I don’t want to become more like Jesus.
Other times it is not complacency, rather it is something deeper—something (a
behavior or an attitude) that I hold onto even though I know I should not.
The Good News is that God is waiting for me (and
you) to turn more and more of ourselves over to Him—for He will shape us—just think
back to the clay and potter—he will shape us is we harden not our hearts.
Tomorrow I want to spend some time on Hebrews 7
& 8, and then the next day wrap up Jeremiah.
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