Jeremiah 15 v 10-21

As I write this reflection it has just been announced that New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Arden has decided to resign. In her announcement she candidly admits that she “No longer has enough in the tank” to do the job.

In this passage it feels as if Jeremiah is in the same position as Jacinda Arden and that his tank is similarly empty. Often we see people in the Bible as being super heroes who never get tired or disillusioned and we forget that they are human beings with all of the weaknesses, pressures and vulnerabilities inherent in that.

In this passage we discover that Jeremiah is dismayed that the people to whom he is called to preach are so negative and unresponsive to what he does and says. Jeremiah has never actively sought conflict however his faithfulness to God’s message means that conflict is what he ends up with and Jeremiah laments his situation before God.

 And God responds with what is in effect a “good news/bad news reply. The bad news is that because of the sinfulness of the people and their stubbornness, conflict will be inevitable for Jeremiah, however the good news is that God will be with him in the conflict and that Jeremiah will never be left alone.

That is still the situation for us today. If we are faithful to God conflict will happen and it will feel both difficult and unfair. However we must never lose sight of the promise that God will be with us and support us in all that we do in His name.

Revd Robert Legge