Jeremiah 12:5-13

5 “ If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you,
Then how can you contend with horses?
And if in the land of peace,
In which you trusted, they wearied you,
Then how will you do in the floodplain[a] of the Jordan?
6 For even your brothers, the house of your father,
Even they have dealt treacherously with you;
Yes, they have called a multitude after you.
Do not believe them,
Even though they speak smooth words to you.
7 “ I have forsaken My house, I have left My heritage;
I have given the dearly beloved of My soul into the hand of her enemies.
8 My heritage is to Me like a lion in the forest;
It cries out against Me;
Therefore I have hated it.
9 My heritage is to Me like a speckled vulture;
The vultures all around are against her.
Come, assemble all the beasts of the field,
Bring them to devour!
10 “ Many rulers[b] have destroyed My vineyard,
They have trodden My portion underfoot;
They have made My pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.
11 They have made it desolate;
Desolate, it mourns to Me;
The whole land is made desolate,
Because no one takes it to heart.
12 The plunderers have come
On all the desolate heights in the wilderness,
For the sword of the LORD shall devour
From one end of the land to the other end of the land;
No flesh shall have peace.
13 They have sown wheat but reaped thorns;
They have put themselves to pain but do not profit.
But be ashamed of your harvest
Because of the fierce anger of the LORD.”
Jeremiah 12:5-13 NKJV

The Lord answers Jeremiah's question on why the wicked seem to prosper and the implied question of why Jeremiah has it so hard. He asks Jeremiah if He has trouble keeping up with the infantry, how does Jeremiah expect to keep up with the cavalry. He asks that if Jeremiah has trouble in the peaceful countryside, how does he expect to fare better in the rough terrain around Jericho. If I manufacture trouble for myself when times are easy, how will I be able to handle real trouble when it comes. God does not promise us a life of ease on this earth. Satan is given latitude with us as he was with Job. Because of the sin in the world, things will happen that are outside our control. Our God who can see what is best for us in all circumstances allows these things to happen so that we can grow in character and learn to trust Him in all things. Parents can relate to this. One can always try to step in and remove all problems from a child's life, making sure that the child has as easy path as possible and giving the child whatever they think they want. The child is usually left weak with an inability to handle life when true hardship comes their way. God essentially is telling Jeremiah that the things he is complaining about will be for his strengthening. Horrible troubles are coming on Judah, Jeremiah will be able to remain faithful to God during those times because he has been faithful to God in the times of peace. By walking with God when it seems as if he could walk without Him, Jeremiah learns to love and trust God so that he is able to trust and love Him when what should be support and love from those closest to him turns to persecution and hatred. The rulers of Judah have destroyed God's vineyard with neglect and with deliberate turning away from God. Now the weak nation of Judah, with only their own feebleness to rely on because of their rejection of God, will fall to the might of the plunderer. Judah will become a desolation in fact because they allowed their spiritual lives to make their hearts desolate in times of peace. Wheat sown and then ignored becomes thorns. Blessings become curses because of the unfaithfulness of their hearts toward God. Daily choices made against God result in separation from Him who desires their peace and prosperity. When the swords of the nations come upon them, they are left with only themselves for defense. The fruits of their choices is thorns instead of grain. Destruction is all they have left. The best they can hope for is slavery to man, because they have rejected voluntary servitude with God.

Lord,
Help me today to live my life for You and for Your honor. Help me to recognize the blessings You give and to be thankful for them. Help me to not complain about the minor trials in my life, but to trust You to always bring good to me from every test You give me. Help me to be a willing servant for You, encouraging others and helping them to understand Your love for them.