A protective Panamanian sloth high up in the tree-top!
“I’ve got your back”…we love those reassuring words. Mom’s are great, aren’t they? They always have our back.“ God said, I will show them ‘my back’ and not my face…” in Jeremiah 18:17. NOT reassuring words. In fact, I can’t think of any words more distressing than to have the Creator of the universe turn His back on me! The Israelites had exchanged their first love of God, forgotten Him and chosen instead disobedience and idolatry. They were proud, stiff-necked and against God’s ways…
Sound like anyone you know?
Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, speaking from the Potter’s house to the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, receives a message from God. These people had ignored God and the consequence of their sin came with the words, “I will scatter them before their enemies and ‘I will show them my back’ and not my face in their day of disaster”!! Jer. 18:17
In those days people from many nations passed by and asked, “Why had the Lord done such a thing?’ And the answer was: “Because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord their God and have worshipped and served other Gods.’”
In this day the “song and dance” is the much the same. Our very culture is full of seekers of pleasure, people of entitlement, and the masses consumed with their own ways. Our biggest enemy is…US!
“How do I know?” you ask. Look around. What do you see? Wars and rumors of wars, international uncertainty, disorder, lawlessness, absence of strong biblical leadership, broken homes and relationships, independent and divisive spirits, debates on gender, spiritual deadness, lethargy toward good works and service, self-first mentality, absence of hospitality, (me first…gimme’ mine!)…just to mention a few…
What did God do when the Old Testament nation of Israel decided to walk contrary to His plan, purpose and way? My grandson, Christopher sent me a verse from Proverbs from Chapter 1. God said, “…they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me, since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord and would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke…”
We all want the protection and safety, but often choose the consequence of disobedience and compromise. The day is coming when we will be held accountable, as individuals and as a nation.
Do our convictions line up with what God gives us in His Word
or has the world drawn us away to drink the cool-aide?!! (Jim Jones)
My grandsons, Payton telling Maverick while attempting to climb the stairs…
”We can do this…I’ve got your back…let’s go!”
~Jackie Johnson - I am a former tribal missionary to the Kuna Indians on the Colombian border in Central America. Fluent in several languages, my husband and I currently pastor a Spanish-speaking church in Southern California. My passion is mentoring and equipping dedicated young women for life, marriage, motherhood, and beyond. I am the mother of two daughters and the grandmother of three Princesses and four young Knights.
