During the COVID-19 pandemic, I listened to a Christian speaker who argued God was sending judgment beginning with Covid-19. It put me in a dark mood. But when I look back at 2020, I have to admit God blessed our family. Bad things happened, but we were not sick or hungry or impoverished. I did not miss a day of work. God blessed us in spite of 2020.
Today’s reading in Jeremiah says that is what He will do:
“The man who trusts in the Lord is blessed. He will be like a tree planted by water: it sends out its roots toward the stream, it does not fear when heat comes, its foliage will remain green. It will not worry in a year of drought, or cease producing fruit.” 17:7-8.
The prophet writes this in the middle of a passage about God’s judgment:
“Their sin is written with an iron stylus, with a diamond point it is engraved on their hearts… They have set My anger on fire; it will burn forever” vv. 1,4.
And then God says, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord” v.7. It is as though God says the rebellious “have set My anger on fire, it will never be quenched—BUT I will bless those who trust in Me.”
I don’t understand it all: there are times when God allows His people to suffer things far beyond what they might seem to deserve. But here He promises blessings during judgment. Maybe God uses blessings to show idolaters what they are missing by serving the wrong “god.”
Even if the future holds hard times for America, God promises to bless us. Look again at verses 7 and 8: God promises the faithful
1)blessings,
2) no fear of heat,
3) they will remain “green” (continued growth and creativity, maybe?),
4) no worry during drought,
5) a harvest of fruit that never stops.
Imagine that. Even during judgment, God promises blessings, freedom from fear, more growth, and more fruit for the Lord. Isn’t that amazing! Hang on to that, whatever the future brings!
ΑΩ
Household Words: 