Jeremiah's Question

Read Jeremiah 10-12
 
Jeremiah 11:9-10 Again the LORD spoke to me and said, “I have discovered a conspiracy against me among the people of Judah and Jerusalem. 10 They have returned to the sins of their forefathers. They have refused to listen to me and are worshiping other gods. Israel and Judah have both broken the covenant I made with their ancestors.”
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Jeremiah 11:18 Then the LORD told me about the plots my enemies were making against me.
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Jeremiah 12:1 LORD, you always give me justice when I bring a case before you. So let me bring you this complaint: Why are the wicked so prosperous? Why are evil people so happy?
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Jeremiah 12:13 “My people have planted wheat, but are harvesting thorns. They have worn themselves out, but it has done them no good. They will harvest a crop of shame because of the fierce anger of the Lord.”
 
IF a law enforcement officer came to you to say, “We have discovered a conspiracy against you. People in your hometown want to kill you. But don’t worry. We have stopped it.” How would you react? Perhaps you might ask the law officer, “How can you allow such crimes around us? Am I safe?” His reply might be, “We are dedicated to stopping the crime. The criminals will be sentenced to prison.”
   These verses from Jeremiah 11 and 12 allow us to listen to a crisis conversation between God and his prophet. The LORD calls his people’s disobedience a conspiracy, a plot, against his authority. I AM looked at Israel’s history. Although he created them to be a blessing, they completely chose the curse of idolatry. They conspired, the plotted, to disobey his commands, so they could rule themselves. This is the rebellion begun in the Garden, continuing through the human soul.
   Then the LORD revealed a conspiracy against Jeremiah’s life (Jeremiah 11:18-12:6). We can easily understand why Jeremiah would be frustrated, wondering why the wicked attack the righteous. Others in Scripture, including Job, the psalmists and other prophets had the same question. I think we do, too. When we look, for example, at the persecuted church to see the world’s conspiracy to mock and kill Christians, do we wonder, “Why are the wicked so prosperous? Why are evil people so happy?”  But then we must know God’s answer, “They will harvest a crop of shame because of the fierce anger of the LORD.”  
   God is holding each person to account. He told Jeremiah to disregard men’s opinions or threats because God’s justice will destroy them. Yes, it is true that many faithful righteous people suffer for God and die for his kingdom. But we always remember God’s ultimate reward for his faithful is eternal life. In contrast, his final reward for the world’s conspirators is eternal judgment.
   The LORD assures us through Scripture that his world is his world. He will do as he wills to bring his will from heaven to earth.