Jeremiah 47
Because of my parent/child context on this trip through the Bible, this jumped out at me from today’s chapter: “The people will cry out; all who dwell in the land will wail at the sound of the hooves of galloping steeds, at the noise of enemy chariots and the rumble of their wheels. Parents will not turn to help their children; their hands will hang limp.” (vs 2-3)
Apparently, what was about to befall the Philistines was going to be so horrific and frightening that it would totally overwhelm the natural inclination of the parents to their children. Fear and self-preservation would take over, and in the ensuing chaos, the fathers (overtaken and consumed by panic) would forget about their own flesh and blood.
That seems incredible to me! It’s hard to imagine anything so awful that it would cause me to forget about my girls or not be willing or able to lift a hand to help them in a time of distress. Yet, Jeremiah seems to indicate that the unconverted heart—when stressed to the extreme—has nothing in itself to sustain love. When put to the hardest possible test, it will apparently revert to self-preservation.
Photo © Unsplash/Charles Deluvio
In contrast, there was one Man who—when subjected to the most horrific torture imaginable—did not revert to self-preservation, but continued to think of others. Of course, I’m talking about Jesus Christ. In the midst of life’s most awful circumstances, He:
Forgave His torturers. (Lk 23:34)
Gave hope to another dying man. (Lk 23:43)
Comforted His mother. (Jn 19:26-27)
He did not allow fear and despair to overwhelm Him. Instead, He put fear aside, choosing to put Himself in the Father’s hands, trusting that what He knew of His Father was right (even when it didn’t feel right): “And Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” (Lk 23:46)
When stressed to the extreme, I don’t think the unconverted heart has any chance to escape fear and self-preservation. It’s simply part of our sinful nature. But, the more we come to know God and the more our hearts are healed, we will be able to choose what Jesus did—the way of faith and not fear.
In impossibly trying times, it does not have to be said of us that we didn’t turn to help our children. Instead, we can be like God who, when faced with the worst kind of suffering, looked past His pain and reached out to bless others. I want to be more like that.
Photo © Unsplash/Annie Spratt