I'll have it my way!

Prophets are not easygoing company men. They are not popular figures with celebrity status. We like religious leaders who understand our problems, leaders with a touch of glamour. We prefer those who look good on posters, book jackets and television.

Prophets don’t help us fit God into our way of life. We who are accustomed to “making room for God,” try to keep him tucked into Sunday morning time slots, special buildings, and on call for ceremonial duties. The God of the prophets is far too large to fit into our tightly planned lives. He demands that we allow Him to invade every nook and cranny of life.

Israeli citizens called on Jeremiah to get a word from the Lord on their behalf. Ten days later, Jeremiah delivered the message and the people rose up accusing the prophet of being a liar. (42:5-43:3) In the secret places of all men’s hearts we demand, “Tell us what we want to hear!” If what we want to hear is not delivered, the messenger is a liar!

We remind each other of Jeremiah’s message from the Lord in chapter 29, “For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.’” (Verse 11). Have you noticed the context? The promise is immediately preceded with, “This is what the LORD says: ‘When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place.’” (Verse 10) I like the truncated version better, leave out the years of captivity! Who needs them?

The truth of the story comes to a head when “arrogant men,” family leaders, accused Jeremiah of lying and challenged the prophet’s credentials in chapters 42-43. Arrogant men experience the horrors of God’s wrath for pride filled refusal of God’s counsel. The variable is in the heart of man. The question for men in every age is, “Will we demand God’s spokesmen to speak what we want to hear, or will we bow before the One who calls us to obedience?” The story in Jeremiah, God’s nonconformism oracle, is too important to ignore.