What a nerve Zedekiah had to send this message to Jeremiah: “Inquire now of the Lord for us because Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon is attacking us. Perhaps the Lord will perform wonders for us as in times past so that he will withdraw from us.” Jeremiah’s response is what you would expect: in effect, ‘You must be joking!’ They had just put poor Jeremiah in stocks and had him beaten for having told them that the nation was going to fall to the Babylonians. And, now that the Babylonians turn up, they go to Jeremiah asking him to see if God will perform wonders for them. If this situation seems ridiculous to you then pause for a moment and reflect. It is not so different to situations in which we ignore God for a long time and then, when something bad happens, we suddenly want God’s help. It’s amazing how often nominal believers, who have ignored God all their lives, suddenly become embittered against God when something bad happens. I have seen greater tragedies occur in the lives of people who walk closely with God, and they are so much stronger in these situations. It is not that God won’t answer us in our distress if we have previously ignored him. Thankfully, God is gracious, and he does answer us in such situations, but this isn’t the type of relationship he desires to have with us. Walk closely with God in good times and you will be ready for the hard times.
Draw near to God and seek him.
Read Jeremiah 21
