Who's In Charge

The words recorded in Jeremiah 50 must have shocked Jeremiah's hearers. God was revealing through him the future of the most powerful nation in the known world at that time--Babylon. God would use Babylon to discipline God's own people severely. Babylon would depose their king and deport most of their citizenry to Babylon for 70 years. But now in this message to the few who remained, Jeremiah tells both the Babylonians and Israel that Babylon would soon fall and fall swiftly (v44). That fall did happen and is recorded for us in Daniel 5.

Who's in charge of the affairs of humankind and their nations? Jeremiah reminds all of us--believer and unbeliever alike--that God rules over the affairs of man. We can feel indestructible today and be gone tomorrow, whether we are individuals, churches, or nations. When God declares the game over, there is no overtime. It is game over. And when He decrees that tomorrow is alive and well, you can count on tomorrow, just as you count on the sun rising in the morning (Actually, God's decrees are more certain than the rising of the sun, because He has decreed that the sun's days are numbered).

So how should that make us feel today? If you are a devoted follower of Christ, it should give you confidence in your future. Even in our increasingly anti-Christian society, God is still in control. Even if He has allowed us to enter captivity in our culture, rest assured that the days when the evil one seems in control are numbered. Babylon eventually always falls (Read Revelation). God always reigns and sooner than any of us can imagine, He will reveal His sovereign power to all.

But if we are in a time of captivity, let us humbly accept what it says about our walk with the Lord. God allowed Israel's captivity to bring them back to Himself. He will use whatever means necessary, even the unbelievers around us, to bring His people back. Accept His discipline in your life and return to Him. And do so with hope in your future.

In the middle of Jeremiah 50 is this wonderful word to the people of God: Jeremiah 50:33-34 (NIV) 33 This is what the LORD Almighty says: "The people of Israel are oppressed, and the people of Judah as well. All their captors hold them fast, refusing to let them go. 34 Yet their Redeemer is strong; the LORD Almighty is his name. He will vigorously defend their cause so that he may bring rest to their land, but unrest to those who live in Babylon. God is always in charge and is always working to bring about what is best for His people (Romans 8:28). Our Redeemer reigns!