Go Easy
When Israel was overcome by Nebuchadnezzar's armies (who knew Israel had become far too sinful), there was no way for the remnant of Israel, who lived through that turmoil, to overcome Nebuchadnezzar.
I tried to tell my aunt, last night, that a family expression comes to mind now that I've read, with more complete understanding, about Israel being captive to Nebuchadnezzar's country:
"When your hand is in the lion's mouth, go easy," part of my family used to say.
There was no real escape for the remnant of Israel that was allowed to keep living. Even Israel's last king, Zedekiah, had to finish living the earth-bound part of life under the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, whose men killed Zedekiah's sons and then also blinded him for his sins. But Nebuchadnezzar then ordered that the prophet Jeremiah be treated kindly, and that he be allowed to live wherever he wanted to live during his final years in earth.
That's not a good thing, though.
When a leader does both evil and good, his source isn't the God of Heaven. Still, Nebuchadnezzar controlled a great expanse of different lands during his reign, and it can be said that the true God of Heaven allowed some things, because even Egypt was humbled during Nebuchadnezzar's time. It ultimately wasn't Heaven's will for Nebuchadnezzar to lord over the masses the way that he did. But some things, then, did happen for a reason; and prophets like Jeremiah understood how Israel needed to live and keep faith during those terrible years.
Jeremiah's word to the people was to basically to be quiet, live as best you can, be productive, don't loose faith.
Jeremiah is who said, in the midst of Israel going into captivity, that the Lord would keep watch, so no one should despair: "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." (Jeremiah 29:11, KJV)
That's just a little like: "When your hand is in the lion's mouth, go easy."
When money for a bus ticket leads only to another wilderness, don't buy a ticket to no help. But go easy. Buy food, be quiet, be productive. Do what you can do each day. Go easy.
Vest in postage for an actual work application. Wait on the Lord. Go easy.
Amen.
I tried to tell my aunt, last night, that a family expression comes to mind now that I've read, with more complete understanding, about Israel being captive to Nebuchadnezzar's country:
"When your hand is in the lion's mouth, go easy," part of my family used to say.
There was no real escape for the remnant of Israel that was allowed to keep living. Even Israel's last king, Zedekiah, had to finish living the earth-bound part of life under the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, whose men killed Zedekiah's sons and then also blinded him for his sins. But Nebuchadnezzar then ordered that the prophet Jeremiah be treated kindly, and that he be allowed to live wherever he wanted to live during his final years in earth.
That's not a good thing, though.
When a leader does both evil and good, his source isn't the God of Heaven. Still, Nebuchadnezzar controlled a great expanse of different lands during his reign, and it can be said that the true God of Heaven allowed some things, because even Egypt was humbled during Nebuchadnezzar's time. It ultimately wasn't Heaven's will for Nebuchadnezzar to lord over the masses the way that he did. But some things, then, did happen for a reason; and prophets like Jeremiah understood how Israel needed to live and keep faith during those terrible years.
Jeremiah's word to the people was to basically to be quiet, live as best you can, be productive, don't loose faith.
Jeremiah is who said, in the midst of Israel going into captivity, that the Lord would keep watch, so no one should despair: "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." (Jeremiah 29:11, KJV)
That's just a little like: "When your hand is in the lion's mouth, go easy."
When money for a bus ticket leads only to another wilderness, don't buy a ticket to no help. But go easy. Buy food, be quiet, be productive. Do what you can do each day. Go easy.
Vest in postage for an actual work application. Wait on the Lord. Go easy.
Amen.
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