Map of Israel and Judah
Sunday, September 12, 2021
The Journey to Egypt . . .
If you remain quietly in this land I will build you up, and not tear you down . . .
Repeatedly in Scripture we are urged to move out of our comfort zones, and to put Christ into action. From the first words of Genesis (In the beginning when God created the heavens and earth . . .) to the last words of Revelation (Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.), we are encouraged to take steps into wide and dark abysses, to take leaps of faith. We are inspired to commit acts of hope and to bring union with enemies through love. Today’s reading is one of those quiet times when we hear the Lord our God tell us that it is time to remain planted, to listen, to persevere through the trouble, to be still, to be calm . . . for the Lord our God is with us.
I will plant you, not uproot you . . .
But so often in our lives we are tempted to sort out problems by changing our location rather than changing ourselves, we have likely packed our bags for Egypt where we will see no more of war, hear the trumpet alarm no longer, nor hunger for bread. We convince ourselves that it makes a great deal of sense to pull up stakes and begin anew elsewhere when relationships or covenants have gone terribly, and seemingly irreparably, amiss. Frequently we believe it is time to move out or away from a place or a person and there are certainly situations in which our personal safety depends on our stepping away from danger; but in today’s reading we are challenged to make a spiritual change in our hearts rather than a physical change with our bodies. The prophet’s words rise to us and ask us how quickly we back away from God when our lives become difficult. When we consider the choice before Jeremiah to remain or stay, we see that much of who we are and what we do identifies us as remnant.
For I regret the evil I have done you . . .
Jeremiah the prophet suffers greatly and deeply. From 628 to 520 B.C.E. he speaks chiefly to the people of Judah and her capital Jerusalem. Much like today, these are turbulent times. The superpowers of the day, Egypt, Assyria, and Babylonia, are carving up the Middle East putting small states like Judah in constant danger. The old Israel Kingdom divided in 930 B.C.E. and its northern portions were invaded, her people disappeared into exile. The people of the southern kingdom of Judah constantly ask Jeremiah’s opinion, he speaks, and then they disagreed with him. At turns, they ignore him, persecute him, they even imprison him. Yet Jeremiah continues to speak when the people ask and when God calls. His story may seem pointless and depressingly familiar; but through all of the abuse this prophet receives, he remains faithful to his own covenant with his creator. And the message de delivers is a constant reminder that the change God asks us to make is a change in our hearts. Jeremiah also reminds us of three important concepts: God unfailingly calls us to repentance, we will suffer consequences when we break our covenant promises, and restoration is ours when we respond to God’s call. Jeremiah reminds his people – and us today – that we are a faithful remnant to be gathered up by God.
Then listen to the word of the Lord, remnant of Judah.
Tomorrow . . . be still and know that you are Remnant.
Adapted from a reflection written on October 7, 2007.
Image from: http://neatnik2009.wordpress.com/2010/01/27/feast-of-jeremiah-june-26/
The Noontimes 
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