God is Not Some Kind of Genie
March 31, 2021
Commentary
Nebuchadnezzar sends up another army against Jerusalem and the city is under siege. Zedekiah, who is now King, sends a hasty word to Jeremiah the prophet, asking him to intercede with God on their behalf (vv. 1-2). It appears that he sees God as some kind of a genie, ready when you rub the lamp of prayer to appear and say, “Yes, master; what do you want me to do?” However, God is not like that. God is sovereign and He moves according to his own purposes, and he does not play games with us. Zedekiah found this out, for God sent an answer back that not only am I not going to help you; I’ll hinder you. I will cause the weapons with which you are fighting to be turned against you (vv. 3-7). There was a way the king could have found the mercy and grace of God. Had he knelt before God and confessed his evil deeds, and called upon God out of a heart of true repentance, God would have turned and met him. But God is not someone to whom we can call for help only out of a desire to escape the consequences of our folly, but with no real change of heart.
The people had two clear choices: the way of life and the way of death (vv. 8-10). The “way of death” was chosen by those who decided to remain in the city. They would die. The “way of life” was selected by those who deserted (surrendered) to the enemy besieging Jerusalem. This was the only hope for those still in the city because God had determined to let Jerusalem fall to Babylon. Jeremiah again singled out the royal house of Judah and focused on their sin (vv. 11-14). Evidently the king saw no need to obey God. Because of this proud self-reliance, coupled with sinful disobedience, God would punish the king and his people.
Application
Many people who think that prayer is only for getting us out of trouble. They imagine that we can go on doing as we please, and ignoring all the efforts of God to correct us. Then, when we really get into trouble, all we have to do is pray, and everything will be all right. Lord help me to never treat you as some kind of Genie and expect you to come running to my rescue whether I obey you or not.
Jeremiah 21:1– 14 (NET)
1 The Lord spoke to Jeremiah when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur son of Malkijah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah. Zedekiah sent them to Jeremiah to ask, 2 “Please ask the Lord to come and help us, because King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon is attacking us. Maybe the Lord will perform one of his miracles as in times past and make him stop attacking us and leave.” 3 Jeremiah answered them, “Tell Zedekiah 4 that the Lord, the God of Israel, says, ‘The forces at your disposal are now outside the walls fighting against King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and the Babylonians who have you under siege. I will gather those forces back inside the city. 5 In anger, in fury, and in wrath I myself will fight against you with my mighty power and great strength. 6 I will kill everything living in Jerusalem, people and animals alike. They will die from terrible diseases. 7 Then I, the Lord, promise that I will hand over King Zedekiah of Judah, his officials, and any of the people who survive the war, starvation, and disease. I will hand them over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and to their enemies who want to kill them. He will slaughter them with the sword. He will not show them any mercy, compassion, or pity.’
8 “But tell the people of Jerusalem that the Lord says, ‘I will give you a choice between two courses of action. One will result in life; the other will result in death. 9 Those who stay in this city will die in battle or of starvation or disease. Those who leave the city and surrender to the Babylonians who are besieging it will live. They will escape with their lives. 10 For I, the Lord, say that I am determined not to deliver this city but to bring disaster on it. It will be handed over to the king of Babylon and he will destroy it with fire.’”
11 The Lord told me to say to the royal court of Judah: “Listen to the Lord’s message,
12 O royal family descended from David. The Lord says: ‘See to it that people each day are judged fairly. Deliver those who have been robbed from those who oppress them. Otherwise, my wrath will blaze out against you. It will burn like a fire that cannot be put out because of the evil that you have done.
13 Listen, you who sit enthroned above the valley on a rocky plateau. I am opposed to you,’ says the Lord. ‘You boast, “No one can swoop down on us. No one can penetrate into our places of refuge.”
14 But I will punish you as your deeds deserve,’ says the Lord. ‘I will set fire to your palace; it will burn up everything around it.’”