Reading for today:  Jeremiah 46-48
Original Post:  August 29, 2014


I am reminded as I read today that God is the Lord over all nations, not just Israel.   We have spent much of our time looking only at Israel, because that is the nation through whom the message of salvation comes.    It doesn't mean that God doesn't love the people from other nations, or that He isn't interested in them serving Him as well.

It's easy to forget that a several thousand years earlier all people were of one tribe.  They traced their lineage back to the Ark of Noah, and all of them knew of God.  Gradually they began to forget who God really was, and then they began to fashion idols which they in turn worshiped.

It's hard to imagine how a nation could go from worshiping God, and not knowing anything about false gods to serving false gods and forgetting about the Lord.   In fact, it would take generations of slow creep to get this started.  It would begin gradually and become a rapid descent as time went on.

Perhaps that's what we see going on in the world today.  Nations that were Christian several hundred years ago are now adopting new ideas about what is spiritually right.    This just underscores the importance of making sure your children are taught the validity of the "old way".  Jeremiah calls it "the ancient path" and "the good way" in Chapter 6:16.   Rest is found when we reside in Jesus Christ.   Anxiety, fear, anger and war are found when we abandon God for idols.

Even though these nations have long ago disavowed themselves of any relationship to God, they are still under his authority.  They cannot escape judgment for their sins, because the one they have insulted has authority over the entire universe.

I was wondering why Jeremiah left to go to Egypt with the disobedient remnant, when God commanded them to stay.  God must have told him to go with them, because he had a message for the Egyptians as well.  (and the Philistines and Moab, along the way).

One last thought:   God doesn't offer to delay or cancel his judgment on these nations if they will repent.   He offered that to Israel, but not to Egypt or Moab.   He does say that one day they will be restored, but he doesn't say that He will inhabit and bless them in the same way He does for Israel.

PR