There is Nothing too Hard For God
May 31, 2019
Commentary
After making everything official and the papers are notarized concerning the land he just purchased (v. 16), Jeremiah breaks out into prayer and praise (v. 17): “Ah Lord God! behold, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. And there is nothing too hard for you.” Jeremiah knew that God was omnipotent and that He could do anything He wanted. Since He created the heavens and the earth, He can literally do anything. He then recounts some highlights from history that demonstrated God’s omnipotence (vv. 18-24). Jeremiah reminds himself of the God of power who made the heavens and the earth. Nothing is too hard for the One who has done great wonders among mankind, and whose miracles stand embedded in history.
Now it seems that, Jeremiah begins to have some doubts about this purchase of property (vv. 25-26). He’s probably thinking, this is crazy! What did I just do? This makes no sense at all. In verse 27, God answers his prayer and addresses his doubts rather dramatically when He urges Jeremiah to have greater faith by taking up the prophet’s own statement in verse 17: “nothing is too hard for you.” He then asks Jeremiah in the form of a question, Jeremiah, do you really believe what you have just said? “Is there anything too hard for me?”
Application
I’m a candidate for God’s power. All I need to do is admit that I’m weak and needy. Based upon today’s passage God’s power will come flooding into my life. When I get out of the way, and let God have control, His power will flow!
Jeremiah 32:16– 27 (NET)
16 “After I had given the copies of the deed of purchase to Baruch son of Neriah, I prayed to the Lord, 17 ‘Oh, Sovereign Lord, you did indeed make heaven and earth by your mighty power and great strength. Nothing is too hard for you! 18 You show unfailing love to thousands. But you also punish children for the sins of their parents. You are the great and powerful God whose name is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 19 You plan great things and you do mighty deeds. You see everything people do. You reward each of them for the way they live and for the things they do. 20 You did miracles and amazing deeds in the land of Egypt that have had lasting effect. By this means you gained both in Israel and among humankind a renown that lasts to this day. 21 You used your mighty power and your great strength to perform miracles and amazing deeds and to bring great terror on the Egyptians. By this means you brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt. 22 You kept the promise that you swore on oath to their ancestors. You gave them a land flowing with milk and honey. 23 But when they came in and took possession of it, they did not obey you or live as you had instructed them. They did not do anything that you commanded them to do. So you brought all this disaster on them. 24 Even now siege ramps have been built up around the city in order to capture it. War, starvation, and disease are sure to make the city fall into the hands of the Babylonians who are attacking it. Lord, you threatened that this would happen. Now you can see that it is already taking place. 25 The city is sure to fall into the hands of the Babylonians. Yet, in spite of this, you, Sovereign Lord, have said to me, “Buy that field with silver and have the transaction legally witnessed.”’”
26 The Lord’s message came to Jeremiah: 27 “I am the Lord, the God of all humankind. There is, indeed, nothing too difficult for me.