In Jeremiah 14 we saw Jeremiah intercede three times for his people who were under the condemnation of God for their constant rebellion against him. And though we saw Jeremiah interceding three times, we saw the Lord responding only twice. That’s because there’s a chapter break at the end of Jeremiah 14 that cuts off God’s last response to Jeremiah’s intercession.

Each of God’s two responses to Jeremiah’s prayers that God would relent concerning his promised punishment of them was basically negative. God told Jeremiah that, no, he would not be changing his mind concerning the coming punishment.

So todays passage begins with God’s confirmation to Jeremiah, that even if it were Moses or Samuel who were interceding on behalf of the people, they would be unable to turn The Lord from His planned destruction of His rebellious people and their impending exile.  If the people ask, mockingly, where they should go to God says basically that if your lot is to die, then die you will, be it by the sword or starvation. Those destined to be exiled will be exiled. I don’t know how this reads for you, but I can really feel that God has reached the end of His tether with His people. What a dramatic turn about from the time of the exodus from captivity by the Egyptians, to their current ungodly and disobedient lifestyle. So much so that god has determined that He must cut himself off from them because of their sinfulness. There is a shadow here of that moment Our Lord Jesus hung on the cross, when the sin of the world was on Him and God could no longer look on Him as the price was paid for us all. We know that in God there is no sin and nor can He be in the presence of sin. That’s why He sent Jesus to pay the price for that sin, so that once paid we could all be in His presence and enjoy eternal life with Him.

With all that said, at the end of this passage God reiterates His promise to Jeremiah in 1:8 and Jeremiah 1:19 and surrounding verses. God is with Him to deliver him. And so it is for us, ‘Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you’.

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Thank you Father God that through the love of Christ we no longer have to face being separated from you because of our sin. May we always remember it is only because of Jesus’ great love for us that this is possible. Amen.