The children of Israel and the children of Judah have done nothing but evil in My sight from their youth. The children of Israel have done nothing but provoke Me to anger by the work of their hands, declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 32:30
These are such strong and painful words for Jeremiah to hear. In some ways, he must have felt vindicated because he spoke to Israel for so long about their wayward activities and disrespect towards God. On the other hand, provoking the Lord’s anger is the worst of all things.
Sin is unwelcomed in God’s eyes
God was specific when talking with Jeremiah. He stated the children of Israel and Judah had done nothing but evil in His sight. As I sit here and read that verse this morning, I am unsettled at its implications.
First, God knows all we think. There are “thinking” sins in our lives that haunt us as we walk through our days. We think this or that about him or her. We have thoughts about our jobs, our families, and others who hurt us. But rest assured, God knows our hearts and knows our thoughts. They do not go unnoticed.
If God knows your heart, what does He know? What has He heard in your thoughts?
Second, God knows all we do. There is no way around God’s all-knowing existence. He knows it all. I sometimes think about God and wonder if He wrote a book about my life what it would say? I am sure that it would be full of different kinds of sin I would want no one to read.
All of my thoughts and deeds on paper for the world to see. “Extra! Extra! Read All About It! Pastor Tommy thinks this or that about whatever…” I think it could be quite humbling, to say the least. I’m pretty sure that none of us would want our complete biographical thought life and actions put to pen and paper. But that’s how God is. He knows it all and yet somehow offers the grace of forgiveness to us.
But at some point, God’s anger overcame His patience with Israel and Judah.
“They have turned to me their back and not their face. And though I have taught them persistently, they have not listened to receive instruction” (Jeremiah 32:33). Who does that? Who turns their back towards God?
If I’m honest, I have to say that I’ve been guilty of that same thing at times.
Continual sin provokes God’s anger
At some point, warnings of impending doom towards stiff-necked people become useless. Hardened hearts and turned backs are an afront to God. Through all of God’s kindness and grace extended to Israel and Judah, they have involved themselves in continual evil.
The time had come. They provoked the Lord. Their abomination sparked God’s anger (Jeremiah 32:35).
What does God’s anger look like? “Behold, I am giving this city into the hands of the Chaldeans and into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he shall capture it. The Chaldeans who are fighting against this city shall come and set this city on fire and burn it, with the houses on whose roofs offerings have been made to Baal and drink offerings have been poured out to other gods, to provoke me to anger (Jeremiah 32:28).
That is how God’s anger looks. Destruction.
A simple question this morning. Are you living a life that provokes God to anger or grace? Continual sin begins to stir the heart of God to the point He provides discipline for each of us. I want to encourage you to maintain a spirit of love and devotion towards God.
He loves you and wants to provide grace towards you, but sometimes discipline is the best thing.