Jeremiah 2:21-22 – Stay consistent in our journey with God

In Jeremiah 2:21-25, God through the prophet illustrated unfaithful Judah in several ways. Two of them were briefly described in verses 21-22. The prophet likened Judah to a choice vine that God Himself had planted. Though she was brought forth through a faithful seed, she became a wild vine. What she had become puzzled God so much that he asked, “How then have you turned yourself before Me into the degenerate shoots of a foreign vine?” Then she was likened to a filthy object. The filth was so thick that it was difficult to get rid of lye and much soap. Hence her stains were ever before God.

However, in verses 23-25, the main message God was portraying Judah was that she had become an unfaithful wife who had chosen to desert her faithful husband. Yet she would vehemently deny her unfaithfulness and declined any responsible. She reckoned herself as an innocent wife who had been led astray. However, nothing she claimed was further from the truth. She could justify their actions but the true situation could never escape God’s sight. Hence there was no way Judah could claim innocence. In the later part of verse 23, Judah was asked to look at herself “in the valley.” This was by way of telling them how low and badly the nation had degenerated.

So using two animals God pointed to her waywardness. Like a camel (verse 23) Judah had entangled herself in her ways and could not think or walk straight. Then in verse 24, God said Judah was like a donkey who was now accustomed to the wild and in her heat lusted for anyone. Nothing became irresistible to her. In other words, she had crazily gone after other gods. Like a thirsty traveler eagerly seeking water in the desert she went searching everywhere for water. So intense was her search that even her sandals became unloose and she was willing to walk barefooted. God was telling Judah how unrestrained and intense she had become in seeking after other gods.

We can see that God was thoroughly disappointed with what Judah had become. Chosen as a faithful vine she had become wild. And from a nation purged clean by God, she chose to grovel in the filth of sin. She had become an unfaithful wife much like senseless animals. What lessons can we draw from these verses? Here are two of them: Firstly, there is none so blind as one who refuses to see. When evidence of guilt is obvious, no amount of denial can erase it. It is better to own up and amend than to feign innocence. Secondly, we learn that to start well is needed but staying on course and ending well is more critical. We have all begun well in Christ, so let us work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Like Paul let us discipline ourselves well so that we may not come to the end of the race only to be cast away!