Misplaced Trust

Jeremiah 48:1-47 

Hard to find source of good news these days. All manner of gloom and doom broadcast incessantly whether sound, pictures, printed matter, even shapes much of small group conversation.  With so much negative around, challenge to stay positive and hopeful. Also difficult to avoid thinking world just getting worse every day. Hear it especially when folks are reminiscing, talking about how things used to be before cell phones and social media and artificial intelligence. Our tendency though is to segment things, consider culture and surroundings and history in pieces. Will have better grasp of things when take long view, wide perspective.

If our world really looks like getting worse, going downhill, is mostly b/c we hear about things more quickly and number of people doing things has increased. There are signs that perhaps end of age closer than we realize but not ones that mostly get attention. Is various ways corrupt people practice evil in all strata of life that we usually notice. Largely b/c haven’t really studied / become aware of world history, don’t connect all the dots when reading Bible. And… don’t take basic nature of man seriously enough – man’s fallen nature hasn’t changed since Eden. Degree of corruption may ebb and flow but people today not any worse than since the fall.

Hard words for Moab from God over all armies both in heaven and on earth – Moab as independent nation will not survive his judgment. Overwhelming degree of detail given, God will leave nothing to chance but direct every part of their destruction personally. He is giving ample opportunity for repentance not only to Moab but also other nations he identifies. No room for doubt… YHWH not local tribal deity only concerned w/ Israel and Judah. His reach includes all the world and beyond.

A. not a town will escape

25 places

north to south, east to west, town by town entire land of Moab will be decimated – economy, infrastructure, population

harassment and violence they directed toward Israel turned back on them and more – payment for sin against God and neighbors

disgraced and defeated

not Moab’s first defeat – Ehud, David, Jehoshaphat all defeated them but never to extent as this time – recovered before, not now

had once ridiculed Israel, now they are objects of ridicule (39) as God shows his power over then and their god, Chemosh (7b)

nowhere to hide

may be urged to run for the hills, try to escape destruction – if Chemosh can’t prevail or escape, will be no chance for followers

number of defeats not taken as encouragement to befriend God – instead hardened enmity against YHWH, his people

B. punished for their sin

self-righteousness (7a)

convinced by own efforts they could satisfy any need they might have present or future – any of their gods graded on curve

refused to believe any god would presume to have standard they could not achieve… always worse offenders than them

greed (7a, 33)

productivity of land contributed to greed – Napa Valley of Near East, 100K lambs, 100K fleeces tribute to Israel annually

if they would take pleasure in stuff, God in judgment would strip stuff from them – the few survivors: penniless refugees

pride and complacency (11, 18, 29-30)

content with all they had done by themselves for themselves, saw no reason to strive for investment in future… only the present

would soon realize boasting had no lasting substance behind it – failed to credit God for his part, would withdraw it from them

idolatry (35)

this the worst, underlying source of rest – worshiping gods they believed would give what they wanted, not what they needed

their gods took what was most valuable – worship, children, future – and gave only God’s judgment in return for their sin

rebellion (42-43)

people group began by profound rebellion against God’s law – Lot’s daughter got dad drunk, herself pregnant after Sodom

with God’s help could have broken endless cycle of evil but instead persisted in determination to do things their own way

C. weep for the lost

shouts but not of joy

from youngest to oldest every reason for joy gone, only sorrow and suffering left – desperate enough to be w/o hope

if cries for help, were from wrong god – more likely were cries of rage against true God, trying to believe judgment not just

anguish over destruction

all that was important to them destroyed – for many, stuff and perceived liberty to rebel against authority more valuable than life… not worth living w/o those things

the mighty is broken

they grieved b/c what they thought was their strength failed… refused to even consider there might be an alternative

God’s people grieved b/c could see Moab’s physical brokenness only symptom of spiritual brokenness that God would have fixed

D. promise for the future

no biblical record

people group disappear by name from Bible after destruction – effectively erased from subsequent history, biblical / secular

there is one notable exception: Matt. 1:5 grandmother of King David was Ruth the Moabitess with an enduring legacy in Jesus

not identifiable today

were a few survivors of destruction but never came together to reestablish distinct people group in later history

assimilated into Muslim Arabs?

how will God keep promise to “bring back the captives of Moab in the latter days”, to restore their fortunes? no Bible record

perhaps will be among Arabs in Jordan and surrounding area – Muslims target of approx. 1% missions resources, 2% of missionaries… we can do better… starting right here in America

So how does Jeremiah help us? Is clear man’s basic problem same as always. Since no new information or evidence to contrary, solution to problem the same. Also true result of ignoring God’s answer still the same. Since God kept promise regarding Moab, can rightly expect he will keep other promises about judgment on evildoers. Means we have message of both warning and hope – need to faithfully present both. For everyone like Moabites… convinced they’re good… will disregard conversation about hope… they already have a hope (or think they do) even though false hope. They need to understand truth about how God sees them first, basically take all their hope away and then give what is genuine.

Should be clear that even though we have responsibility to bear witness to truth, God must do his part to change heart / mind of the lost. Best news is God is still doing just that even now and will do so until Jesus comes back. Are people of Moabite heritage in world today – they may not realize it but God knows, some will be part of company from every tribe and tongue and people and nation praising him for eternity. Why? Because they have sought God’s mercy, trusted in him instead of their own gods.

 

God’s Provision

Philippians 4:19-20 

For last 400 years, example after example in just our own land of how God has at opportune times in small and large ways providentially intervened in lives of people. The right kind of summer rain to rescue nearly failed crops, thick fog hiding movement of patriots from enemy, timely supply of small sum of money enabling family avoid being homeless, countless ways God has altered course of individual’s life or nation’s history. Many times credited to coincidence, often hard work, sometimes luck. On occasion, God does get proper credit for his kindness.

Apostle knew history of his people, accounts of God’s actions in previous generations. Also had personal supply of examples – escape in a basket, saved from shipwreck, unharmed by toasted snake. Also knew what his own past had been, how undeserving he was of such gracious care… same true for each of us. These surprising events ones that get attention, God’s providence just as much a factor in widow’s experience when flour and oil for one meal was there day by day for more than 3 years.

Many of these tangible visible ways God has provided yet God by no means limited to such. Granting wisdom, understanding, direction, protection from spiritual harm part of mix also. Those may even be more common though less easily recognized. No hesitation here to declare w/ unshakable confidence God will indeed supply needs of his people.

A. who does it – my God

God himself

often don’t clearly see God’s fingerprints, may be masked by layers of individuals each having part on its way to us, combination of human and at times angelic agents doing God’s work

can also include own efforts as we act on opportunity God orchestrates for us, receive reward for labor according to his plan

sure, are grateful for part others have in supply chain and give thanks – at same time must remember who starts it, directs path all way to end destination

his Father

doesn’t intend any question who apostle referring to – my God – explicit identification especially necessary in pluralistic culture

also makes point where his loyalty lies, to whom ultimate praise, glory, thanksgiving belong… the one who supplies as no other

not God behind the curtain pushing buttons or leaving to autopilot – is God acting according to kind of relationship w/people

our Father

flows from his fatherly love for his children – makes certain child has necessary resources to meet father’s expectations

Jesus made particular connection Matt 7.11 “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”

is response to request for daily bread… and that gives indication of how God supplies… abundantly for need we have today – may be more but that much at least

B. what he does – supply your every need

what he knows we need

all we can see is the immediate… know what we plan for future… God often has different plan, supplies in light of complete plan incl. how it intersects with others and their needs

God not confused by needs vs wants vs desires – he supplies in each category according to his purpose for everyone/everything

God knows what we need, just as important the when and the how – he adjusts his supply so as to conform us to Jesus

without missing any

ever make project list, go get supplies, return home, get part way into project, realize essential item didn’t make it to list? – never happens when God makes the list

since God knows all things, what he supplies today sets up for how he expects us to use it tomorrow, maybe not what we plan

all through Christ

this covers part of the how, also makes plain who can expect to receive – since Christ essential part of supply chain, must be in saving relationship with him

Paul told Romans Christ is the heir, we are joint-heirs w/him – apart from him we have no access to his inheritance, blessing

must want God, not just his goodies, and that includes knowing Christ, being in Christ, destined to be like Christ

C. by what measure – according to his glorious riches

superabundantly

remember what Jesus said: if you give good gifts, how much more will your Heavenly Father give good gifts

not a hint of barely enough to get by, make do – God intends to maintain reputation for having glorious riches at his disposal

matters not how many children need much from him… he has more than sufficient to supply abundantly to meet every need

the highest quality

God doesn’t wait for things to go on sale, doesn’t shop clearance rack or open box or refurbished – always provides what is perfectly suited to need

what we accomplish w/ what he supplies is intended to cause people to give God the glory – can’t do that w/ second rate supply

more than enough to share

God rarely supplies only enough for each of us to meet individual need – is true for everything that comes to us from God

gives enough for us to share overflow – when there isn’t overflow and we give anyway, God still meets our need… wash, rinse, repeat

D. for what purpose – for his glory

yes, for our good

this one more area we may differ from God, whether what he supplies really for our good – often cannot immediately see what God intends to do

like all else we experience, God’s purpose in it to make us more like Jesus… in how we speak, how we think and how we act

if it’s important, will be able to see in hindsight how supply really is good – may see more when we get to heaven

more important, for his glory

if WSC #1 correct, man’s chief end is to glorify God – is really what from beginning mankind designed for, to worship/fellowship

1Co 10.31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

not only what we do as God supplies our every need to be done to his glory, can encourage others to give him glory he deserves

now and later

esp. given what we read in last book of Bible, giving glory to God for what he does will not end with this life, continues in heaven

will praise him more since will be able to see / understand more of his purpose, how dependent we really are on his provision

God began supplying our need when sent Son the Lord Jesus. 1Jo 4.10 “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” His supply to us a continuation of that, outworking of his love for us. Most of all, we and all our family/friends/neighbors need a Redeemer, one who takes our place so we escape God’s just wrath. Once that gift of life is ours, he continues on blessing and providing and making us acceptable to him. We can do no less than give him glory forever and ever.