Deceived?

Passage: Jeremiah 4

I used to enjoy taking in the occasional episode of Law and Order: Criminal Intent. I loved watching Vincent d’Onofrio’s character, Det. Gorem, use his unorthodox methods to get close to the suspects he was investigating. In one memorable episode, Gorem tracks down a man living a double life. At the climax of the film, Gorem corners the suspect (played by Lost’s Michael Emerson – a.k.a. Benjamin Linus), who is holding his children hostage in a hotel room. Gorem uses the rapport he’s developed with the suspect to give him the impression the two are friends. The suspect, obviously overwhelmed by the magnitude of the situation he’s created, allows Gorem to come close. It seems as though the detective is about to enfold the suspect in an embrace; but at the last second he instead snatches the man’s weapon and pins him to the ground. It’s the detective’s unexpected change in demeanor, and switch from confidante to captor that heightens the drama of the scene.

In Jeremiah 4 the prophet confronts God regarding a similar change in demeanor. He says to God,
"Ah, Sovereign LORD, how completely you have deceived this people and Jerusalem by saying, 'You will have peace,' when the sword is at our throats."
You see, few verses earlier God has said to Jeremiah,
“If you will return, O Israel, return to me," declares the LORD. "If you put your detestable idols out of my sight and no longer go astray, and if in a truthful, just and righteous way you swear, 'As surely as the LORD lives,' then the nations will be blessed by him and in him they will glory."
Jeremiah isn’t buying it. Sure, he believes that God would relent if his people changed their ways. But Jeremiah knows his people too well. He knows they’re not going to change. So he says, “God, why taunt me with this possibility? Why pretend that you’re here as our friend? I know how this is going to end. Not with peace.”

Jeremiah may well know how this chapter in the story of Israel and Judah will end. He will see his homeland invaded and his family and friends carted off as slaves. But this is only one chapter in a very long story.

God isn’t lying when he promises peace. God’s not lying when he promises redemption. And God isn’t playing games when he claims to be the friend of his people. God has promised from the start to save the world through the nation of Israel. And if you stick with the story you see that God does indeed make good his promise.

God keeps his promises. And God acts in the best interests of his people. Every chapter of their story is a chapter in the unfolding story of God’s plan of redemption for the world. If you are a child of God, then hang in there. God isn’t playing games with you. Your life is in his hands, and his every act serves the cause of your salvation. Don’t be deceived by your circumstances. Trust in him.