Jeremiah 25 reminds me that with rare exceptions, we are very replaceable. Others can do our job or take over our responsibilities. Even irreplaceable roles transition; a father’s loving protection over his daughter is designed to transition to the husband and mothers become grandmas. Today’s chapter makes it very clear that if we are not available, God will find someone else. And God uses both good guys and bad guys to accomplish His goals. The chapter begins, “The word came to Jeremiah in… the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon”. He uses the foreign king to mark the calendar, “to all those living in Jerusalem: For twenty-three years… the word of the Lord has come to me and I have spoken to you… but you have not listened”. We can always find something to provide the background noise in life, particularly when we are having fun. Jeremiah continues, “And though the Lord has sent all His servants the prophets to you… you have not… paid any attention”. We have a great capacity to ignore the things we do not want to hear. He reiterates that all the prophets said, “Turn now… from your evil… and you can stay in the land”. God spoke very personal words to His people, “But you did not listen to Me… you have brought harm to yourselves”. Friend, is there something important that you are not hearing?
He continues, “Because you have not listened to My words I will summon… My servant Nebuchadnezzar”. Did he just call the evil pagan king His servant? Yes. There is more, “and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants… make them an object of horror and scorn, and an everlasting ruin”. It is interesting to note that the Babylonian king did not know he was a tool of the Lord. He thought he was doing what he wanted. God adds, “This whole country will… serve the king of Babylon seventy years”. Again, notice this is God’s timeline. What happens after that? “When the seventy years are fulfilled, I will punish the king of Babylon and his nation… They themselves will be enslaved by many nations… I will repay them according to their deeds”. Don’t miss an important point; though God used them, He still holds them accountable for their actions. We tend to think that God is condoning all of our actions when we are experiencing success. Maybe you are just being a tool!
Next the chapter discusses a cup that represents God’s righteous judgment against sin. God instructs Jeremiah, “Take from My hand this cup filled with the wine of My wrath and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it”. He is very clear that this cup is given to every nation on earth, beginning with “Jerusalem” and “Judah” and extending to “all the kingdoms on the face of the earth”. The instructions are simple, “Drink, get drunk and vomit, and fall”. Even the noncompliant, “will not go unpunished”. The chapter concludes with a description of what appears to be the end times, “He will bring judgment on all mankind… those slain… will be everywhere… For your time to be slaughtered has come… nowhere to flee”. No wonder Jeremiah is called the weeping prophet! Yet, the words above sound familiar. Remember Jesus’ prayer the very night He was taken prisoner, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will”. Knowing He would lay down His life to pay the penalty of sin, He prayed again adding, “it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it” (Matthew 26:42-44). All of us are replaceable except the Savior. In sinless perfection He took the punishment for our sin and endured the cross so that we could escape judgment through Him. We can receive forgiveness today, by faith in the risen Savior. Now you have a choice to listen, hear and receive, or allow God to work through someone else. May you experience God’s grace today!