Jeremiah 16:19-21
“GOD, my strength, my stronghold, my safe retreat when trouble descends: The godless nations will come from earth’s four corners, saying, ‘Our ancestors lived on lies, useless illusions, all smoke.’ Can mortals manufacture gods? Their factories turn out no-gods! ‘Watch closely now. I’m going to teach these wrongheaded people. Starting right now, I’m going to teach them Who I am and what I do, teach them the meaning of my name, GOD—‘I AM.’’”
“LORD, you are my strength and fortress, my refuge in the day of trouble! Nations from around the world will come to you and say, ‘Our ancestors left us a foolish heritage, for they worshiped worthless idols. Can people make their own gods? These are not real gods at all!’ The LORD says, ‘Now I will show them my power; now I will show them my might. At last they will know and understand that I am the LORD.”
God is Lord of the whole earth and all its peoples. Here we see them longing to leave behind their traditional idolatry and God promising to bring them into knowledge of himself. His love has poured out on them through creation and now he will use the Hebrews to teach unbelievers who he is. All of us were created for fellowship with God and can never rest until we rest in him. And out of that rest we flourish into our true, ultimate self. All things, including us, are complete only in him.
Lord Jesus, I am the descendant of these heathen peoples who heard your creation call, left their idols and found you. Thank you for calling us to yourself. How I long to run and leap into your lap and feel all worldly stress melt away. Give me grace to wait, content in the present with your Holy Spirit in my heart.