Jeremiah 2:29-30 – Be teachable

In Jeremiah 2:29-30, God was portraying Judah as a stubborn child who was unsusceptible to discipline. Again and again, Judah transgressed against Him. And despite His repeated chastening, the nation remained obstinate and refused to change. Then like a spoiled child, Judah would gripe with God as if the nation was suffering unjustly. They even had the nerve to insinuate that God had been unfair to them. So God retorted and pointed out that it was pointless to accuse Him of being unjust. For they were merely receiving what their sins deserved. God told them that it was their own doing that had brought the suffering upon themselves.  

God saw the discipline wasted on them. Even their children when disciplined yet they remained incorrigibly stubborn. It was already bad that they did not accept any correction, yet they had the audacity to accuse God of being unjust. In saying that “Your sword has devoured your prophets like a destroying lion”, God was pointing out to them that it was they themselves who were silencing their prophets who came to warn them.  

 

By being stubborn and teachable, God’s people would perpetuate their sins. Pride is undoubtedly the main cause. By insisting that they had done no wrong, they could not progress in their spiritual journey. Verses like these challenge us to be aware of our personal unworthiness. It is needful for us to appraise ourselves rightly so that we will not turn a deaf ear to God when He is correcting us.  God will resist the proud but give grace to the humble. Which category of people would we rather be?   The choice is obvious!