Strength for the Journey

“If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?” (Jeremiah 12:5, NIV)

Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, mourned the devastation caused by Judah’s continual disobedience. In Jeremiah 11, God reminds the people of Judah of the promises and covenant He made with them. Like any agreement, there are specific terms that must be upheld.

To benefit from any agreement, you must adhere to its terms. God reminds Israel of the conditions of His covenant. Jeremiah 11:1-5 summarizes it: obey God and be blessed; disobey God and face judgment.   Even the prophet Isaiah wrote, “If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (Isaiah 1:19-20, NIV)

One attribute we consistently see in God’s character throughout the Old Testament is His patience and longsuffering. He sent continuous warnings to the children of Israel and Judah before their captivity. From the time God brought the children of Israel out of captivity from Egypt to the time they went into Babylonian captivity, it was approximately 800 years. “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (II Peter 3:9, NIV)

The prophets urged Israel to repent and return to God, yet they refused to change their ways. In the New Testament, there is grace, but often, God’s grace does not erase the consequences of our actions. While you can repent, sometimes God, in His mercy, does not allow us to bear the consequences of our actions. Yet, there are other times when we will suffer the consequences. The consequence for 800 years of sin would be 70 years in Babylonian captivity.

Jeremiah was unhappy about how things were going, as expressed in Jeremiah 12:1-4. He brought his concerns before a righteous and just God, voicing his complaints. In his conversation with God, Jeremiah reminded Him of His justice and righteousness. Given these two attributes, he struggled to understand why it seemed that the ungodly prospered and lived at ease. He observed that it appeared as though the wicked had been planted and firmly established, even though their hearts were far from God.

A noteworthy point Jeremiah made was, “The wicked talk about God, yet their hearts are far from Him.” Jeremiah’s statement made me think about American politicians who often invoke God’s name to gain votes while their hearts are far from God.

He reflected on the painful events around him in light of his relationship with God. He felt a deep sadness in his heart, believing that God was not hearing his prayers or seeing the tears he shed over the judgment that had befallen Judah. “Yet you know me, Lord; you see me and test my thoughts about you,” he lamented (Jeremiah 12:3, NIV). Watching Judah being led away into captivity, he compared it to “Dragging them off like sheep to be butchered.” The reality of Judah being taken to Babylon, a nation known for its wickedness and unrighteousness. Jeremiah’s complaints came from a place of heartache, struggling to comprehend why such suffering could happen.

In response to Jeremiah’s concerns, God does not offer the reassuring answers that Jeremiah might have hoped for. Instead, God does not respond with a why. Jeremiah already knew the answer; the situation unfolding was what God had previously instructed him to communicate to Israel. This outcome directly results from their failure to repent and turn away from their sins.

God’s Response to the Weeping Prophet

“If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?” (Jeremiah 12:5, NIV)

You will need strength to endure tough times. Imagine running a race alongside others and feeling exhausted, only to be challenged to compete against horses—symbols of speed and strength. This comparison encourages us to consider whether we have what it takes to overcome even greater life obstacles. What Jeremiah was complaining about is minor compared to what is coming. God was not going to change His mind concerning Israel and Judah, but He was going to give Jeremiah the strength to navigate the situation. You must endure whatever life brings your way. Strength comes from enduring and walking through life’s challenging situations while leaning and depending on God.