Lessons from Jeremiah 18: The Narrow Way

We continue to see the horror of those who were offered redemption and fellowship with God, but said no thank you. It’s a horrible thing. Jeremiah 18:13-14 says,

“Therefore thus says the LORD:

Ask among the nations,

Who has heard the like of this?

The virgin Israel

has done a very horrible thing.

Does the snow of Lebanon leave

the crags of Sirion?

Do the mountain waters run dry,

the cold flowing streams?”

Of course not. Rejecting God is absurd. Continuing in Jeremiah 18:15-17,

But my people have forgotten me;

they make offerings to false gods;

they made them stumble in their ways,

in the ancient roads,

and to walk into side roads,

not the highway,

making their land a horror,

a thing to be hissed at forever.

Everyone who passes by it is horrified

and shakes his head.

Like the east wind I will scatter them

before the enemy.

I will show them my back, not my face,

in the day of their calamity.”

Let’s highlight two points.

First, notice how they replace knowing God with false religion. They chose side paths, over His right way.

“Enter by the narrow gate.

For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction,

and those who enter by it are many.

For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life,

and those who find it are few.”

Matthew 7:13-14

Second, God will not be mocked, yet there is grace in His response. He doesn’t leave a false way looking like the right way. By scattering, showing His back, allowing for calamity, others will see this as a horror and hopefully not go that way.

God’s Kindness is unmatched and His patience and mercy are stunning.