Jeremiah 1:8

"Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you," says the LORD.
Jeremiah 1:8

Evidently those to whom God was going to send Jeremiah to speak to would not only be opposed to Jeremiah, but they would be full of such hatred toward him that their faces would be marred into faces that were full of contempt and anger. Angry, snarling faces, showing hatred towards him would be the faces that Jeremiah would evidently become accustomed to. We find later that even those from Anathoth , Jeremiah's hometown, would plot to kill him. Even those with whom he grew up and whom at one time were his friends would become obsessed in their hatred of Jeremiah and the message he was to bring to his nation. Most of the 'respected' leaders of Judah opposed him and many plotted to have him killed. As Jeremiah stood before the people and spoke the words God had given him, words that warned of the coming destruction of the nation of Judah unless the people and their leaders turned from their sinful ways and followed God with a heart religion, one can imagine that the faces of the people would be filled with rage and hate toward the messenger. In looking at the faces of those who opposed him, Jeremiah would often have good reason to fear for his life. God, understood what the faces looked like that Jeremiah would soon become accustomed to seeing. God warned Jeremiah at the beginning of his call of the animosity and hatred that he would soon see daily. Then God in His love for Jeremiah, made Jeremiah a promise. God said to Jeremiah, "I am with you to deliver you." I think this was more than just God promising to deliver Jeremiah physically. I can see God wanting Jeremiah to know that He would deliver Jeremiah physically, spiritually, and emotionally. After accepting the call to speak God's words to the people, Jeremiah would be tempted to give up. He would be tempted to take an easier path that would seem to make him less a despised person, but a path that would eventually take him away from God. I can see the results of Jeremiah's daily choice to follow God looking from my perspective 2600 years later, but Jeremiah was living it daily. At times he was to become discouraged and perhaps somewhat depressed. Where was the fruit of his work for God? Where were the signs of the people turning away from their sins and turning toward God? Where was any evidence that the people were going to start obeying God instead of deliberately turning their backs on the God who wanted so badly to save them? When Jeremiah was in the pit of despair (both literally and figuratively), this promise from God to Jeremiah was probably his lifeline. The promise was something Jeremiah could cling to as the faces around him showed Jeremiah was despised by those whom Jeremiah was warning of the results of their path away from God. God promised Jeremiah He would deliver him from those who opposed him and from his temptation to be discouraged. God makes the same promise to us. It is the delivering from our sin that is important to us. God promises to deliver us from our slavery to that which will destroy us. We, like Jeremiah, can choose to be faithful to the mission God gives us and to accept His deliverance from all that would eternally destroy us.

Lord,
Help me today to not be afraid of the faces of those who oppose me when I work for you. Help me to be wise in understanding Your mission for me and faithful in doing Your will, without fear of those who oppose me. Help me to remember and accept your promise of deliverance from sin in my life each day.