Jeremiah 2:14-19 – Trust God steadfastly

In Jeremiah 2:14, three rhetorical questions were raised to call Judah’s attention to the experiences of their brethren in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. God delivered Israel from their bondage in Egypt and made them his children and not slaves. Though Israel became a divided kingdom after Solomon’s reign, God still regarded the Northern Kingdom of Israel as His own. But she chose to become prey to a foreign power by departing from God. So in 722 BC, the Assyrians referred to as “young lions” in Jeremiah 2:15 came and destroyed Israel and left her barren. Many of her citizens were brought into exile in Assyria. Second Kings 17 gives details about the fall of Samaria.

What happened to their northern brethren, should have alerted Judah to wise up. But apparently, they were not. She still turned to Egypt for help in their plight. In referring to heads being shaved by Memphis and Tahpanhes in Jeremiah 2:16, the prophet was probably referring to what was described in 2 Kings 23:33 and 2 Chronicles 36:4. There we are told that Pharoah Nico imprisoned King Jehoahaz and “imposed on the land a fine of one hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.” He was deported to Egypt later. Even what happened to Jehoahaz went a begging. Judah did not learn from what had happened.

In Jeremiah 2:17, the prophet told them that choosing to forsake God was choosing to self-inflict. In the time of their national plight, Judah should have trusted God but they were instead turning to these foreign powers. The Nile and the Euphrates referred to in Jeremiah 2:18 are the two rivers in Egypt and Assyria respectively. Instead of fearing the LORD their God, they were pivoting to trust Egypt and Assyria. They have side-lined the LORD their God, forsook Him, and totally lost their fear for Him. For what they were doing “treacherous” would be the appropriate word to describe them. And their just dessert was guaranteed. God assured Judah that the principle and cause and effect would kick in. What they were doing in deserting their faithful God was sheer wickedness and evil. They should expect dire consequences for this lack of fear of God.

A passage like this calls for us to trust God and be obedient to Him. God is the only one we can trust to see us through our circumstances in life. No matter how glamorous worldly solutions may seem, they always have a catch. Our option in times of difficulty should always be God. He is the best solution to our plight. Here we also learn that it is foolish to turn to the same source that has never brought us solutions before and expect to be helped. As It is said, “Insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result.” Be wise and never forsake God no matter how appealing other sources may seem!