Distractions

Distraction: a thing that prevents someone from full attention to something else.

Set the Scene: Jeremiah disappointed, frustrated. He prays to God and remembers all the ways God has been there for them. And asks God how can these people not obey your words in the midst of this.

God answers the prayer to Jeremiah like this…

Jeremiah 32:26–41 ESV

26 The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 27 “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me? 28 Therefore, thus says the Lord: Behold, I am giving this city into the hands of the Chaldeans and into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he shall capture it. 29 The Chaldeans who are fighting against this city shall come and set this city on fire and burn it, with the houses on whose roofs offerings have been made to Baal and drink offerings have been poured out to other gods, to provoke me to anger. 30 For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have done nothing but evil in my sight from their youth. The children of Israel have done nothing but provoke me to anger by the work of their hands, declares the Lord. 31 This city has aroused my anger and wrath, from the day it was built to this day, so that I will remove it from my sight 32 because of all the evil of the children of Israel and the children of Judah that they did to provoke me to anger—their kings and their officials, their priests and their prophets, the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 33 They have turned to me their back and not their face. And though I have taught them persistently, they have not listened to receive instruction. 34 They set up their abominations in the house that is called by my name, to defile it. 35 They built the high places of Baal in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to offer up their sons and daughters to Molech, though I did not command them, nor did it enter into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin. 36 “Now therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning this city of which you say, ‘It is given into the hand of the king of Babylon by sword, by famine, and by pestilence’:

Trouble in the Text

A city is being turned over to destruction. God is allowing a foreign army, the Chaldeans, to take over their city and be used as God’s teaching instrument.

The Israelites are distracted…

29 | Worshipped other gods.

God specifically names Baal worship. Baal worship promised things people wanted like rain fro crops, fertility for families, properties for communities. The problem of baal worship was that they worshipped other false gods, but that also that they trusted those “gods” for security instead of trusting the Lord.

In the book of Judges, Israel repeatedly turns to Baal, and other gods when life gets difficult.

During the reign of kinds like Ahab and Jezebel, Baal worship became state-supported religion.

They didn’t stop believing in God entirely-they simply added other gods to place their trust in more.

Relationships never work like this…think about your marriage, family, workplace, etc.

32-33 | Corruption in every level of leadership (kings, officials, priests, prophets)

These folks would take bribes, oppress the poor, exploit the widow and the foreigner

The priests who were supposed to guard the worship of God would sometimes allow corrupt worship practices in the temple.

Some prophets told people what they wanted to hear instead of what God wanted.

35 | They have practiced child sacrifice

Why would the people ever get involved with children sacrifice. They were tempted, led astray, and falsely promised by agents of Satan into the belief that prosperity, military victory, divine favor would come from these false gods if they would sacrifice something as important as a child. This is the danger and perversion of thought that comes with baal worship and prosperity worship.

Without excuse..the text alludes to the way God has tried to teach them again and again.

In the Wilderness (After Exodus) God provided manna, gave the 10 commandments and taught them how to live as His people.

During the period of the Judges this pattern: People abandon God, they suffer consequences, they cry out to God, God raises a judge, they repent and return to God. (Cycle continues)

The prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea were sent by God and they warned the people again and again.

APPLICATION AND CONVICTION

Did you know you can teach all day long, but you can’t make people learn.

Did you know you can preach all day long, but you can’t make people change.

Did you know you can talk all day long, but you can’t make people listen.

When people are distracted, they have a harder time learn, change, listen.

Trouble in the World

God allows people to face consequences for their actions. Face the conseqeunces of what they did when they were distracted.

what distracts us from God?

For Israel, it was other gods and the false sense of security that came from them.

When it was convenient and easy they looked after the poor and stayed faithful in all their religious practices, but when they would get distracted by wealth, propserity, status they they would quickly cease to care for the poor and the widow and the orphan and the foreigner. They would quickly compromise in their pure worship practices.

Does that sound familiar church?

We focus and fully obey and follow God as it is easy.

BUT when we are promised something we want we compromise on our commitments.

When we feel we might prosper another way.

We take that job that distracts us from worshipping God because of the social status and wealth and benefits it promises us.

We fear there is not enough to go around.

The Scripture commands for us to care for the poor, the widow, the orphan, the foreigner. But when we “fear” there is not enough, we hoard, grasp, compete, and protect what is ours even when we have an abundance.

We’re number one. We are the operator of our our domain to get ours.

So many people worshipping the false god of hard work.

-If I just work hard enough…IF I just save enough…If I just get enough power…then I’ll be secure! Slow fade from God and self reliance.

The same struggle existed in Jeremiah’s day.

The Idols may change, but the distractions remains the same.

(PAUSE)

Grace in the Text:

By all logic, God should give up on the Israelites. Their rebellion toward God’s will. Their rejection of God as Lord. (turned to baal and false gods, ignored his teachings) Their actions toward others and their own. (Harmed others, practiced evil)

Passages like this give me pause because it seems like God has given up on the Israelites. But then I remember I’ve come to believe…

God’s people get distracted from God. God doesn’t get distracted from His people.

Repeat and elaborate.

The story doesn’t end in verse 35.

There is not even a small amount of remorse from God’s people. The passage goes from facing consequences for their part in child sacrifice to God promising renewal and restoration.

God is never done calling, He is never done seeking restoration, he is never done offering renewal for all.

Let’s read the rest of the passage…

Jeremiah 32:26–41 ESV

37 Behold, I will gather them from all the countries to which I drove them in my anger and my wrath and in great indignation. I will bring them back to this place, and I will make them dwell in safety. 38 And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. 39 I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them. 40 I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. 41 I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul.

God RETURNS THEM from the nations where they are scattered.

GOD establishes a RELATIONSHIP. (THEY WILL BE MY PEOPLE, and I WILL BE THERE GOD) Two directions

God promises TRANSFORMATION through gi in them one heart and one way.

God establishes a COVENANT.

God promises there will be JOY.

Grace in the World:

Distractions don’t have to lead to destruction.

Matthew 19:23–26 “23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.””

In the metaphor, it is difficult for the rich man to enter kingdom of heaven. But not impossible. Impossible for man. Possible with God.

ALTAR CALL: Prayer Team/Instructiosn/Open

The Good news in the text today is this is still possible and the path of God. We do not always have to be distracted by the temptations, worship of other false idols/gods, we don’t have to ignore the needs of others in need. We can obey the instructions of the Lord. We can offer confession. We can repent. We can turn back toward God when He calls.

Is there anyone today being distracted?

Is there anyone who is tempted by prosperity, security, status to make compromises?

Is there anyone in the consequences of their sins who is wants to and is ready or needs God’s help to be returned, restored, and renewed and transformed.