God on Trial
7/14/26 Bible Thought (Jeremiah 12-13)
Main Idea: God will cut down the proud in His timing.
A Look at the Text:
The prophet Jeremiah struggled with what was happening in Judah and especially with the threats against his life. In response to it all, Jeremiah essentially prayed, “Lord, I know you are righteous…so what’s going on right now?” (Jer. 12:1-4).
It appeared that things were going well for the wicked. God’s name was near in their mouths but far from their hearts. Yet, seemingly, God had established them (Jer. 12:2).
But things weren’t as they seemed. Just as Jeremiah lamented, so did God.[1] Yahweh described Israel as “my heritage” and “the beloved of my soul” (Jer. 12:7-9). God cared about Judah, but He was heartbroken by their rebellion.
While they were effectively a wasteland already (Jer. 12:11, NLT), they would soon be truly laid waste and plucked up from their own land (Jer. 12:14).
God gave Jeremiah a living illustration of this when He tasked him with hiding a loincloth near the river Euphrates (Jer. 13:1-11). After many days, the loincloth was ruined. It would offer no benefit to a wearer. In the same way, though Israel was called to cling close to God, they were no longer good for anything (Jer. 13:10-11).
All of this was due to the persistent rebellion that was rooted in their proud hearts. They served idols, and as such, their pride would be cut down. Crowns would topple off their rulers’ heads (Jer. 13:18). Exile was certain to come (Jer. 13:19).
Bringing it Home:
It can be very hard for believers to understand what God is doing when His ways occasionally seem inconsistent with His nature. If God is the just Judge who rules righteously, why is He letting the wicked prosper? Does He not care at all?
Jeremiah had people who were threatening his life! Yet things were apparently going fine for them. The prophet who was obeying God had bigger problems than the ones who were trying to get rid of him! It didn’t seem fair.
Yet God has never promised to be fair, but to be just. Though the wicked prosper in the present, that is not the end of the story. Exile was sure to come for all of those who continued in their rebellion. God’s judgment was delayed out of mercy, but there was coming a day when His justice would be executed. So it is now (see 2 Pet. 3:9).
If we know these things to be true, we ought to trust Him in the in-between. We should humbly accept His ways, even if they confound us.
Challenge:
Do I ever charge God with malpractice as God?
[1] Hetty Lalleman, Jeremiah and Lamentations: An Introduction and Commentary, ed. David G. Firth, vol. 21, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Nottingham, England: Inter-Varsity Press, 2013), 142.