God’s Patient Victory

Judah: Rebellious Children (vv. 1-14)

They make plans against God’s will. The Result: Sin

They seek to Go to Egypt for salvation. Therefore, God declares Egypt worthless.

God reverses their hope; Who can stand against the Lord?

They desire deception and sin.

They have made an idol of their sin itself.

Yahweh: Gracious God (vv. 15-26)

God makes a conditional promise - you will be delivered BY returning but they reject it.

The Mosaic Covenant is conditional.

They will try to escape, but they are fleeing, not escaping.

They are fleeing God’s mercy (v. 15 & 18) Therefore He waits patiently.

God is just.

How is God just in mercy and compassion?

Jeremiah 31:31–33 ESV

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Something spiritual is occuring in their hearts. The promise of the New Covenant.

God gathers His people to Himself cf. Jer 32

Imagery familiar from Revelation 21 and 22

Yahweh: Righteous Victor (vv. 27-33)

God turns to wrath again. But to whom? The nations.

Part of their judgment is to sink further into sin and deception.

The switch from third person to second person shows the switch from the nations to Judah.

Israel will rejoice in the victory of the LORD over His enemies.

A burning place is prepared for the gentile king(s).

Summary:

God’s response to Judah’s sinful idolatry is to strip them of that which they love and show mercy.

He tells of a day when Yahweh will gather His people to Himself, give them a new heart & vanquish His enemies.

God give hope in the picture of the Day of Christ.

How is God just in mercy? The judgment of their sin in Christ.

Israel’s true hope is not in Egypt, nor the law of Moses, but in Jesus Christ and His coming.