For the last week and a half i’ve been reading through Jeremiah. I’m 20 chapters in…but I find myself returning to the first five chapters again and again. I think i’m drawn to them because in these first few chapters, we’re able to catch a glimpse of how God’s heart works and it. is. GLORIOUS.
In chapter two Israel forsakes God. There’s a part (2-3a) when God talks in past-tense, remembering faithul Israel:
“I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me
through the desert, through a land not sown. Israel was holy to the Lord.”
But immediately after these verses, we read “disaster overtook them” (v 3b). In vs. 5 God says something that broke my heart:
“What fault did your father’s find in me, that they strayed so far from me?” And again, in chapter 2, vs 19: “Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the Lord your God and have no awe of me.“
But then, broken-hearted God cries out to Israel, calling her back! (ch 2 vs. 12-13)
“Return faithless Israel, declares the Lord. I will frown on you no longer, for I am merficul
declares the Lord. I will not be angry forever.”
(vs. 14)…”Return faithless people.”
(vs 20) “How gladly would I treat you like sons and give you a desirable land, the most beautiful inheritance of any nation. I thought you would call me Father, and not turn away from me.”
(vs 22) “Return faithless people. I will cure you of backsliding.”
(vs 22) “Return faithless people. I will cure you of backsliding.”
And THEN….the grand finale:
(vs 23) “…surely in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel.” (AMEN!)
Pretend you don’t know how this story ends. Can you feel God’s heart breaking? Can you FEEL his patient love as He calls faithless Israel back into his open, forgiving arms? In chapter 4, vs 14 we get a quick recap: “O Jerusalem, wash the evil from your heart and be saved. How long will you harbor wicked thoughts?”
How often do we put God back in this same situation? There He is: Holy, forgiving, full of love. His arms are stretched out and He’s crying “come back to me, come back to me”. And there we are…just a few feet away, lacing up our shoes so that we can take off running in the opposite direction. Why? WHY. Why are we faithless Israel? Why do we ignore God’s calling? Why does the sound of “return to me, faithless Israel” sound all-too-familiar? How many times does God’s heart have to break before His people finally return to Him?
Father,
I am Israel. I am faithless Israel. I’ve seen your broken heart. It breaks for me often, doesn’t it. God I am so sorry that I’ve hurt you time and time again. I’m coming back. And this time i’m sticking around. You won’t have to call me, Father. I’ll be here, at your feet, where I belong. Thank you for pursuing me. Thank you for calling after me. Thank you for taking me back.
Love Forever,
Faithful Israel
