What if there were no...
"Thus says the LORD..." is repeated five times in Jeremiah 49. Throughout this chapter, the Lord reveals to Jeremiah His judgment against the nations surrounding Judah because of their continued sin and rebellion.
To Edom, we read: "For thus says the LORD: "Behold, those whose judgment was not to drink of the cup have assuredly drunk. And are you the one who will altogether go unpunished? You shall not go unpunished, but you shall surely drink of it." Jeremiah 49:12
What if there were no consequences for sin and evil? How would that affect our hearts toward the Lord?
Jesus once said, "And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold." Matthew 24:12
We often read the Old Testament and view the Father as a harsh God, quick to judge and punish sin. But when we consider the entirety of Scripture, we see a Father who continually extends grace when most wouldn't, and mercy beyond what we could ever fathom. Yet, without judgment, how could we call Him just?
When Jesus warned that lawlessness would cause the love of many to grow cold, He revealed the destructive effect of unchecked evil. Deep down, we long for justice, even when we don't fully understand what that justice should look like. But true justice must come from perfect purity and righteousness, and only God possesses both.
So, when we read passages like Jeremiah 49, let's be reminded not only of the Father's judgment but also of His holiness, mercy, and righteousness. A God who never dealt with evil would not be truly just. Yet our hope is that the same God who judges sin also extends mercy and offers salvation through Jesus Christ.
Until we meet Him face to face, let's surrender our desire to take matters into our own hands. Let Him be our avenger, trust in His perfect judgment, and rest in His righteousness rather than our own.
-To Know Jesus. To Live on Mission.