Jeremiah 46:1-12 – Our God is in control

At the onset of his ministry, Jeremiah was told he was appointed as a prophet to the nations (Jeremiah 1:5). Sio here in  Jeremiah 46 -51 we see a collection of God’s messages he gave to the nations. However, this was not uniquely only to Jeremiah for there are two other Prophetic Books namely Isaiah and Ezekiel, where we find messages that God sent to the nations.  In the book of Isaiah, they are found in chapters 13-23 and in Ezekiel, chapters 25-32. All these clearly demonstrate to us that the God we worship and serve is the sovereign Lord not only of Israel but also of the nations.

It is worth noting that Jeremiah chapters 46-51 are closely related to Jeremiah 25. In chapter 25:15-16, this was what God instructed Jeremiah to do. “For thus the Lord, the God of Israel, says to me, ‘Take this cup of the wine of wrath from My hand and cause all the nations to whom I send you to drink it. They will drink and stagger and go mad because of the sword that I will send among them.’” God had already planned to deal with the nations and the last would be the king of Babylon. The order in which God would deal with the nations in Jeremiah 46-51 would be somewhat similar to the order listed in Jeremiah 25.  The announcement to the nations was not in order of events but more according to the geographical locations. God first dealt with Egypt in the south of Judah before moving up north and then East toward Mesopotamia. The climax of God’s message to the nations would be Babylon.  

In Jeremiah 46:1-12 God’s message was concerning Egypt. In verses 1-2, we see the defeat of Egypt by Babylon in the battle of Carchemish. This battle would mark the beginning of the end of Egypt’s dominance in the region.  Verse 2 tells us that this event took place “in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah.” In verses 3-4, Jeremiah described the Egyptian soldiers preparing for the battle busily and excitedly. But all excitement ground to a halt in verses 5-6 when the fierce Babylonians ended their confidence with their intense attack. The Egyptians were routed and forced to flee but were cut off at River Euphrates.

Picturing the same battle, verses 7-9 painted the army of Egypt surging forward like the water of the River Nile. Egypt boasted of its strength since they were equipped with a great number of mercenary soldiers from the surrounding countries. They had this on top of the world feeling that they could take on the world and conquer it. But verse 10 declared that the day did not belong to them.  It belonged to the Lord of Hosts.  It was a day of vengeance for the Lord God. It was God’s Day of judgment for them. So the Egyptians suffered a great slaughter. Though known for their medical skills, they could not find any remedy for their wounds. And according to verses 11-12, news of their defeat and fall quickly spread far and wide.

 

God is the judge of all nations and sovereignly controls the affairs and activities of the nations. No matter how strong and powerful one may feel, none can resist the will and plan of God and come on top. Our best plan in life is to get to know Him and submit to His will and plan. Yielding to Him gives us strength for life’s endeavors.