Blackaby pulled me up short with his statement
“They gave lip service to their trust in God, but their actions showed where their faith really was: in their military and financial might.”
(Henry Blackaby Experiencing God Day By Day)
Of course I have read Jeremiah’s story — and felt sorry for him. The Israelite’s of Jeremiah’s day believed they could trust in their army, the diplomacy of their kings, and their foreign alliances to protect them from the powerful Babylonian empire.
It really brings to mind the current world scene — 2 years of COVID shutdowns, economic unrest daily in the news, Ukraine & Russia at war along with impacting other nations and world situations, and recent publicity of crime and killings in our own country. So when Blackaby mentions “faith…in their military and financial might“, it sets me to thinking about where we (as a nation) and I personally place my “ultimate” faith and trust.
Well, we all know how that reliance on military and financial might actually worked out for them when you read the “rest of the story” in Jeremiah — as Blackaby tells us, the Israelites were so stubbornly committed to trusting in human strength instead of God that, even as the Babylonian army approached Jerusalem, they continued to desperately seek for a person, or a nation, or an army that could rescue them.
Too late they realized that they had neglected to trust in the only One who could deliver them. They lost the war with the Babylonians and were carted off in various waves of deportation so that about 70 years of captivity (longer for some of them) resulted. Why do I feel sorry for Jeremiah? There is nothing worse than trying to warn your child of a danger repeatedly and then seeing them head right into it and get hurt.
The Lord sent Jeremiah to be a prophet to Israel telling them to return to Him saying such things as “If you will return, O Israel, return to the Lord, if you put your detestable idols out of my sight and no longer go astray…” — but they did not and He pronounced his judgments on them.
All too quickly, I am dismissing that “idol” stuff because I think of carved wooden things — which I would never bow down and worship. HOWEVER, Blackaby cited a scripture that just sums it up and hits me between the eyes:
This is what the Lord says: “The man who trusts in mankind, who makes human flesh his strength and turns his heart from the Lord is cursed.” Jeremiah 17:5
I do know idolatry is not just carved wooden totems — it is as Blackaby describes it: “placing your ultimate trust in anything other than God is idolatry.” If that is a bit “too global” for you, let me share the specific, personal questions we should each ask ourselves:
Where do I turn when I experience a crisis?
When I am hurting or afraid, to whom do I go?
When I have a financial problem, whom do I want to tell first?
Where do I seek comfort when I am under stress or discouraged?
If you are still resistant, here is a personal story of mine affirming what Blackaby is telling us. My mentor in Christian conciliation brought me with her on a training she did at a local seminary. In advance, she talked to the top staff and directors asking them a similar question – where do you go when you have a struggle or difficulty?
We were shocked that not one of them said “the Lord” or “scripture” — instead she got “my lawyer”, “my spouse”, “my counselor” or a named person in their life. Exactly the point Blackaby is making. And yes, they led a seminary training program impacting many students there.
His point is so poignant for us today — Don’t make the same mistake as the Israelites. Go straight to the Lord when you have a need. He is the only One who can provide for you.
And if you find yourself hesitating, thinking “I need real help, NOW” and re-direct your thinking to His provision (human strength) instead of toward the Provider, then I recommend you set aside an hour and read the book of Jeremiah.
Scripture has certainly been my instructor and guide — may it be our assurance of the path we are to take as well: straight to the Lord!
