Jeremiah 49 reminds me of Mrs. Verni. When
we were growing up, she always seemed to be watching from her front
window, peeking through the blinds to see what shenanigans we were up
to. How many of us ignored the warnings of our mom about friends
they did not trust? It is likely those reputations were earned by
observing their actions. Our moms watched the nearest neighbors most
closely because they knew they could have the greatest influence on
us. In today’s chapter, God gives Jeremiah His observation and
discipline for 5 more next-door nations, beginning with “the
Ammonites“. He asks, “Has
Israel no sons?” The
Ammonites took what was not theirs. “Why
then has Molek taken
possession of Gad?” Molek was
the god of the Ammonites and worship involved horrific child
sacrifice. They were most certainly one of the “bad kids”. God
continues, “Israel will drive
out those who drove her out… for
Molek will go into exile,
together with his priests and officials“.
God will take back His possession and judge the nation, “I
will bring terror on you from all those around you… you will be
driven away“. There was a
time when the incorrigible were sent to reform school to be removed
from society and learn a lesson. Apparently Ammon will return a new
man, “Yet afterward, I will
restore the fortunes of the Ammonites“.
Next
God turns to “Edom”
and asks, “Has their wisdom
decayed?” Some of our friends
seemed to go nuts when they got to the teen years. Rebellion and
drugs just took them away as they dropped out of everything we knew.
They got mixed up with the wrong crowd and just stayed in trouble, “I
will bring disaster on Esau at the time when I punish him… also his
allies and neighbors“. Some
of them were protected by their parents, until they just got too out
of control. “You will not go
unpunished… I
swear by Myself… Edom will become an object of horror“.
Some were taken too young, “Like
a lion coming up from Jordan’s thickets“.
Perhaps the rest of us learned from their loss that there are limits
to rebellion. God asks, “Who
is like Me and who can challenge Me?“
Next
He turns to the neighbor to the north, “Concerning
Damascus… They are disheartened, troubled like
the restless sea
dismayed, for they have heard bad news“.
We remember this family too; they were fun before tragedy struck.
After that, “anguish and pain
have seized her“. They stayed
but looked “abandoned“.
They did not allow God to fill the void, but instead suffered in
silence. Jeremiah next mentions the nomadic people to the east,
“Kedar
and Hazor“.
They came and went. They had no foundation or affiliation.
No one knows the answer when we
ask, “what ever happened to…?” God warns them, “Flee
quickly away! …Nebuchadnezzar
king of Babylon has plotted against you“.
How many families today are in danger because of no roots or
support? Finally the chapter speaks “concerning
Elam“. This nation was not
nearby. To me they symbolize the kid that is outside the group, that
didn’t quite fit. The Lord says, “I
will break the bow of Elam…
I will bring against
Elam the four winds from the four quarters of heaven“.
Everything is a battle for this one. Note the three promises God
makes, “I will shatter Elam
before their foes… I will set my throne in Elam… Yet I will
restore the fortunes of Elam in days to come“.
I see myself in Elam, and I am incredibly thankful that Mrs. Verni
not only watched me, but invited me in for many meals. Maybe you too
can be the eyes and hands that demonstrate restoration to those
outside your blinds?