Jeremiah 46 Commentary
Chapter 46 is a sequel to Chapter 45. In chapter 45, the LORD indicated to Baruch that he would judge the entire earth, uprooting what He had planted, and effectively telling Baruch to be less ‘ambitious’. More like, why are you planting when I’m out uprooting?
Coming first is Egypt. It represents eternal stability but the power of Pharaoh would be squashed. The highs of human civilization would come down to nothing.
Israel has made numerous trips to Egypt for safety. Both Abraham and his son Isaac found themselves in Egypt for relief against environmental adversity. Jacob traveled to Egypt and the nation that he birthed would be enslaved by the once benevolent host.
Israel of Jeremiah’s times ran to Egypt for protection. Yet the LORD promises to swoop down on Egypt in the act of judgment. What we have trusted and what we have relied on would fall.
“The Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘I am about to bring punishment on Amon god of Thebes, on Pharaoh, on Egypt and her gods and her kings, and on those who rely on Pharaoh.’” Verse 25. This is what this whole thing is about; judgment on the Egyptian gods. A time comes when the LORD punishes the controlling gods of the nations. It is no coincidence that the LORD begins by punishing the gods before rescuing His people.
And so “Jacob will again have peace and security, and no one will make him afraid. Verse 27.
The picture given is that at the end of it all the LORD restores Israel. This could refer to the restoration of the nation in Jeremiah’s real-time. The exile to Babylon would end in 70 years. Scattered Israel would return to possess the land of promise once again. It would be the rest that the LORD promised Israel after the great exodus. But we also know that in reality this rest never came. Hebrews 4 verses 6 to 11.
When the LORD posts another invitation to rest in Matthew 11 verses 28 to 30, then you know mankind is yet to attain real rest. Importantly, this real rest can only be had in the LORD Jesus Christ. Yes, Jacob will again have peace and security, and no one will make him afraid.
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