Jeremiah 44 reminds me of the sad reality of addiction. Family and friends struggle to understand why they repeat obvious mistakes. They look at the addict’s behavior, trying to apply logic to the illogical. They search for reason where there is no reason. Everyone can see the path of destruction, but the addict lives in denial. The addict believes they have fooled everyone. They claim they are fine and everyone else is causing their problems. All the blame for everything that has gone wrong, falls squarely on the shoulders of someone else. Often the cycle is not broken until tragedy hits. In today’s chapter, the Jewish remnant has had multiple hit and run incidents. They have ignored warnings, suspensions and revocations. They have lied and denied reality. They too are living in denial. They fled to Egypt, literally living along the Nile River. There was however, no joke about the damage they were creating. “This word came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews living in Lower Egypt… and in Upper Egypt”. God has patience beyond human understanding, but God has a limit and always keeps His promises. “You saw the great disaster I brought on Jerusalem… Today they lie deserted and in ruins because of the evil they have done. They aroused My anger by burning incense to and worshiping other gods”. At trial, a judge will review the history of the repeat offender before sentencing.
Our God is a God of second chances, He seeks rehabilitation and restoration. “Again and again I sent My servants the prophets, who said, ‘Do not do this detestable thing that I hate!’ But they did not listen… Therefore, My fierce anger was poured out”. He asks the shameless before Him, “Why bring such great disaster on yourselves… Why arouse My anger… Have you forgotten the wickedness committed by your ancestors?” In summary, He notes no evidence of change, “To this day they have not humbled themselves or shown reverence, nor have they followed My law”. Finally, He pronounces sentence, “They will all perish in Egypt… From the least to the greatest, they will die… None of the remnant of Judah who have gone to live in Egypt will… survive to return… except a few fugitives”.
True to form, the people respond to Jeremiah with contempt, “We will not listen to the message you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord!” And they cast blame on God, the legal system and injustice. They were just minding their own business, “At that time we had plenty of food and were well off and suffered no harm”. Like the parent who has watched their own child harm themselves and the innocent around them, Jeremiah does not accept the guilt from the accused. He reminds them that they, themselves have made the choices. “Because you have burned incense and have sinned against the Lord and have not obeyed Him or followed His law or His decrees or His stipulations, this disaster has come upon you, as you now see”. I believe the final words of Jeremiah are for those that are dealing with the wreckage left behind by an unrepentant loved one. “Then the whole remnant of Judah who came to live in Egypt will know whose word will stand—mine or theirs”. When you hear the words of accusation and blame from the one held captive, turn to the Word of God. There is always hope for all who call on the Name of Jesus. “He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18). Hold on to that promise.