Ouch!

Jeremiah 29:1-7

When I was a child, I would on occasion do something that deserved a spanking. Ok, if I am honest, I frequently did things that deserved spankings. I can remember times when my mom would have me assume the position to receive my discipline and just as it was about to be rendered I would put my hands behind me as a shield. This was not smart. I was a skinny kid but there was still more padding on my backside than on my hands. Many of you can probably relate. That is instinctive. We use our hands to shield our bodies from hurt. Often, just as in the case of my spankings, it really doesn't make sense. I have even seen in movies where people would throw their hands up when someone was shooting at them. While pointless, it reveals our instinct to protect ourselves from harm; even when that harm is discipline.

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Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the residue of the elders which were carried away captives, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon; 2 (After that Jeconiah the king, and ethe queen, and the eunuchs, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, and the carpenters, and the smiths, were departed from Jerusalem;) 3 By the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, (whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent unto Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon) saying, 4 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon; 5 Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; 6 Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished. 7 And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.

Jeremiah 29:1-7

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Jeremiah's letter to those in captivity is basically God telling them to not put there hands between there bottoms and his paddle. He is telling them if they do, it will hurt worse. Do not resist your chastisement. Do not fight against Babylon. The message was actually the opposite of that, seek the welfare of Babylon. Live life, marry, have children, find spouses for your children. Work in your jobs to make Babylon better. That sounds so counter intuitive. Babylon was the enemy. They were pagan. Nebuchadnezzar was evil. So, why would God tell them this?

The children of Israel had been resisting God since they left Egyptian slavery. God was telling them to stop resisting him and follow his plan. Yes, they were being disciplined, but if they would allow it, he would make them better through it. For the most part, this was the beginning of them finally turning from pagan worship and following Him. I say beginning because many still resisted for a while. Others, like Daniel and the 3 Hebrew children, heard the message and were obedient to it. For that, they were blessed and had a major Godly impact on Babylon. Their influence would last into the New Testament when the Magi arrived to see Jesus after following the star they had learned about from the Hebrew prophets.

God allows bad things to happen in our lives to teach us to obey him. For Christians, this is training. We are learning to be more like Jesus. For the lost world, it is calling them to follow God and his plan of salvation. They can either go with it and submit to him, or they can throw their hands back and resist him. Putting their hands back will only hurt worse and they will eventually be condemned to Hell. For Christians, we can either accept our discipline knowing that God is doing so out of love, or we can throw our hands back and resist. This too will hurt worse than if we simply receive our chastisement and learn the lesson God is teaching us.

Here are two verses that say basically the same thing. One is an Old Testament verse written before Jeremiah and one is a New Testament verse written after Jesus ascended to Heaven.

Proverbs 3:12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Father, help me to have a heart that receives your discipline and remembers that you love me. May I not resist you and make things worse on myself. Should you place America in captivity to pagan leaders (if we are not already there), help me to be obedient like Daniel.