Nothing is too difficult for You…
Jeremiah 32:17 God is still waiting for His people to obey. Are you ready to listen to Him?
“‘Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You,”
Jeremiah 32:17 NASB1995
The prophet Jeremiah was in a bad situation. He had made a prophecy to the leaders and people of Judah that they were soon to be taken from their land to Babylon after the armies of King Nabuchadnezzar had finished their siege on Judah. Judah’s king, Zedekiah, was especially unhappy with one part of the prophecy, in which Jeremiah had said that he would be “given unto the King of Babylon.”
King Zedekiah had just the remedy to stop the prophet from upsetting the people of Judah — he would lock Jeremiah up in the court of the guard in the king’s house in Jerusalem. Things were looking pretty bleak for Judah, Jerusalem, Zedekiah, and Jeremiah, but God was still in control of the situation and spoke again to the prophet.
What followed was a rather complex set of instructions from the Lord aimed at Jeremiah, who was told to purchase land from his uncle, get the signed deeds of ownership, and — in front of many witnesses — seal one copy up in an earthenware jar where it might last for generations. God was giving Jeremiah — and those who worshipped Yahweh — a sign of hope; “For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, “Houses and fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land.” (Jeremiah 32:15 NASB1995)
In today’s verse, Jeremiah begins a prayer to God, leading off with a statement of praise and truth — nothing is too difficult for God! Jeremiah goes on in his prayer to give his interpretation of what God has been telling him, seemingly seeking assurance that he heard God’s voice properly and that the people will eventually be able to return to Israel.
God answers and explains! He not only validates Jeremiah’s interpretation, but goes on to explain why He is angry enough to give a nation over to the Babylonians. The people of Israel and Judah have been rebellious from the start, worshipping false Gods instead of the one true God. God is very angry, and He is going to try to teach the people a lesson. How angry?
“Indeed this city has been to Me a provocation of My anger and My wrath from the day that they built it, even to this day, so that it should be removed from before My face, because of all the evil of the sons of Israel and the sons of Judah which they have done to provoke Me to anger—they, their kings, their leaders, their priests, their prophets, the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.”
Jeremiah 32:31-32 NASB1995
God wants to put fear of Himself into the hearts of the people through their captivity in Babylon. Being a loving God, He offers hope at the end of His words to Jeremiah, saying that He will make an everlasting covenant with the people if they will turn to Him, love and respect Him, and follow His commandments. His promise:
“For thus says the Lord, ‘Just as I brought all this great disaster on this people, so I am going to bring on them all the good that I am promising them.”
Jeremiah 32:42 NASB1995
Jeremiah’s prayer to God and the answer from the Lord are similar to other parts of the Old Testament, where God offers everything to His people, if they will just be obedient. I am reminded in particular of 2 Chronicles 7:
“If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:13-14 NASB1995
God is still waiting for His people to obey. Are you ready to listen to Him?
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
All-powerful God, I am awestruck with your power and majesty. With a single gesture, You created all that exists in this universe. Through Your prophet Jeremiah, You demonstrated Your control over everything and that You will ultimately defeat the enemy. All my praise goes to you, Lord. AMEN.