SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 45
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
You said, ‘Woe to me! The LORD has added sorrow to my pain; I am worn out with groaning and find no rest.’ [Jeremiah 45:3]
Baruch is complaining about how he is suffering through all this, how awful it is to endure this time of judgment.
But the LORD has told me to say to you, ‘This is what the LORD says: I will overthrow what I have built and uproot what I have planted, throughout the earth. Should you then seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them. For I will bring disaster on all people, declares the LORD, but wherever you go I will let you escape with your life.’” [Jeremiah 45:4-5]
God’s response is basically, ‘do you think you are the only one suffering here?’
God is forced to overthrow what He built, to uproot what He planted, how much more painful is that for God?
Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! [Matthew 7:9-11]
I am focusing especially on the “how much more” – that compares God’s experience or action with ours.
We are made in God’s image, but we are finite, limited versions of His perfection – whatever we experience or do, with God it is how much more.
If we know how to bless our children, how much more God?
If we appreciate what is good, how much more God?
If we hate abuse and violence, how much more God?
If we suffer because of the brokenness of sin, how much more God?
Should you then seek great things for yourself?
God asks Baruch whether he thinks he should have an easy life, spared of all misery, while God carries the burden of our sin.
Of course we can understand Baruch’s complaint, who wants to suffer.
But God points out that our suffering is a part of the whole suffering of all creation and all humanity – shall we be exempt while others suffer?
The opposite is true, we are called upon to join God in suffering with others, that we might help them.
We are called upon to enter this world – not escape it – and offer ourselves as a blessing to others, that they might be helped.
Yes, that will mean more suffering still, but that is the way of the cross, the way of Jesus.
A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household! [Matthew 10:24-25]
Interesting that there the ”how much more” is reversed – if Jesus is falsely accused in this world, how much more those who join with Him!
But with this we also have the promise of ultimate protection – wherever you go I will let you escape with your life.
We may suffer, but we will not perish; we may die but we will not be destroyed.
Everyone who stands up for Jesus in this life will stand up with Jesus at the end of this life.
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! [Romans 5:9-10]
How much more!!!
PRAYER:
Lord, how much more! Help me not to see my suffering as greater than Yours, nor my love as greater than Yours! Help me to rest in the wonder of Your HOW MUCH MORE!