Even the stork in the heavens knows her appointed times . . . . But My people do not know the judgment of the Lord. —Jeremiah 8:7
It’s not often that police must break up a brawl between a bear and a tree. The fight began with a playful insult and an accidental bump. Suddenly the bear talked! Then the tree talked back! Soon a guy in a bear suit was mixing it up with someone dressed as a tree. Police had to pull the two apart. The two mascots for Stanford and University of California had stopped entertaining and started fighting.
Bears and trees weren’t made to fight. Neither were we. Yet, throughout history people who were created to love and serve each other have often added insult to injury.
The amazing thing, according to the prophet Jeremiah, is that even those who know God’s law can hurt one another without regret. “No man repented of his wickedness,†he reported (8:6). “They were not at all ashamed†(v.12). Jeremiah also expressed God’s astonishment that even creatures of the wild reflect more wisdom than those who say “peace, peace†while doing harm (vv.7,11).
The One who designed birds to migrate at His command (v.7) does not merely call attention to our wrongs. He offers to fill our emptiness with the fullness of Himself. The alternatives are good: grace for bitterness, wisdom for foolishness, peace for conflict. —Mart De Haan
Heavenly Father, forgive us for our reluctance
to recognize and confess our sins. Replace our
eagerness to vindicate ourselves with a willingness
to see things Your way. Help us to repent. Amen.Repentance not only says “I’m sorry,†it also says “I turn from my sin.â€Linkback:
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