Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea that its waves roar-the LORD of hosts is [H]is name: If this fixed order were ever to cease from [M]y presence says the LORD, then also the offspring of Israel would cease to be a nation before [M]e forever. Thus says the LORD: If the heavens above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth below can be explored, then I will reject all the offspring of Israel because of all they have done, says the LORD. Jeremiah 31: 35-37, NRSV.
Dear heavenly Father, how grateful we are that Your mercies endure forever. Please stay with us as we study your Word, for Christ’s sake. Amen.
I am so amazed at the patience of the LORD toward His creatures, “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” and have everlasting life! To keep this text in its immediate context, I believe; we must realize that these promises were made to Israel. To remain faithful to the text, while expanding it, we must remember, that God said to Abraham, ” ‘…in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed’ ” (Genesis 12: 3). Therefore, upon accepting Christ, as our personal Savior from sin, by faith, we become “children of the promise” (Romans 9: 4-8), and therefore, “partakers of these promises!”
The manner of speech in our promise resonates with my innermost being! God is endearing Himself to us in such deep poetic language! Listen to the great God of the universe as He speaks to us in terms of eternity; If I should ever alter the cycle of the sun that shines by day, or the moon and the stars that give us light by night; and keep the waves of the sea from upheaving; then, the descendants of Israel would disappear as a nation! The fact that He uses the conjunction if, means: for this to happen; the orderly manner in which I do things; would have to be altered! Mercy!
But, He goes even further; once again using the conjunction if. If, anyone can find the way to measure the heavens; and if, someday, somehow, someone, finds the way to determine what the foundations of the earth are made up of; then, under those circumstances; I will reject the descendants of Israel for what they have done! It seems to me, that what God is saying to physical Israel, who accept Him as their Savior; and spiritual Israel, who is the “seed of Abraham,” by faith; is, My mercies endure forever! I will never reject you, or forsake you! Praise God!
And God has been, and ever will be, faithful, in keeping His promises! God never rejects us (John 6: 37). He simply respects our right to reject Him. Whenever there is a parting of the ways between God and His people, it is always because we forsake Him, and He respects our right to do so!
If God were to reject us, it would be quite justifiable, “because of all we have done.” But I am so glad, that “…where sin abounded, grace abounded much more” (Romans 5: 20, NKJV)! I thank Him for not dealing with us as we deserve; but that He has extended to us His mercy. May we appreciate it, and accept it, “today,” and not “harden… [our] hearts!