Sept 22 - Jeremiah 49:16

The terror you inspire

and the pride of your heart

have deceived you ...

Jeremiah 49:16

Jeremiah was preaching the word of God in a historical context.

First, the people of Israel were very rebellious. God's message was constantly, "Repent ... or I will remove my hand of protection."

Second, Israel was surrounded by very real enemies. In this verse, they're threatening neighbors are the Moabites. (By the way, I like the ominous way that Siri translated "Moabites" for me – "mower bikes." Just imagine a menacing gang on fast flying motorcycles with chomping mowers on the front. Yikes.)

But I guess Siri knows best, because that's how the Moabites were viewed - viewed by the Israelites, and viewed in their own imaginations of their own hearts. Thus God, through the prophet, says this to them: "The terror you inspire and the pride of your heart have deceived you ..."

They traded on creating fear. People do that still today. From the bully in the lunch room to the rogue nation with nuclear codes, someone is always trying to seek an advantage by instilling fear.

But… "the pride of [the wicked] [keeps] deceiv[ing them]." God is the great equalizer. Evil will not succeed forever. Listen to the end of this verse ...

"Though you build your nest

as high as the eagle’s,

from there I will bring you down"

declares the Lord.

God allows free will – which means God allows bullying and occasional evil. But evil does not have the last laugh. We cannot run far enough nor climb high enough (like an eagle) to escape  God's ultimate judgment and the restoration of right.

Do you have enemies? (Hopefully not mower bikes!) Don't worry. God has a plan to restore you in the end! And in the meantime, he Will always stand beside you to comfort, encourage, and hold you.

In Christ's Love,

a guy who wants the patent

for the first Mower Bike