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HEN the Jews first forsook Egypt to follow after God, He was
so pleased with them. They were like a beautiful young woman eloping with a
tall dark stranger. They knew so little about God at that time, and yet they
did love Him, for a time (vs. 2). There was initial reciprocity in their
relationship. But, by the time Jeremiah
wrote his prophecies down, much water had washed under the bridge. It had been well over 1000 years since Jacob moved his family to Egypt, and not too far short of 1000 years since
Moses had led Jacob's descendants out of Egypt. What a spectacular scene their
departure had been! But, all of that had been long forgotten by Israel. They
had forsaken God in favor of make-believe gods of wood and stone. He was not
pleased! God remembered the "kindness
of (Israel's) youth" and it
sickened Him to see them so low.
God accused His people of being less loyal to Him
than the pagans were to their imaginary gods. Additionally, God asked what
should have been a very disturbing
question of His people, "What did I do wrong?" (vs. 5). We know of
course that God has never done anyone wrong, but Israel acted as if He had. So,
out comes a grave prophecy against
the rebellious children of God (vs. 19). As the nation wandered further and
further from God, even their most
devout noblemen were far from devout. The Bible scholars didn't know God, the
pastors were guilty of great infractions against God and the prophets had no
vision and no power (vs. 8). This deep level of their spiritual dysfunction was
more than tragic. It was fatal (vs. 13).
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