God Has No Choice

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective

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Jeremiah chapters 11- 13 highlight the consequences of covenant disobedience.​

• “This section provides an explanation for God’s judgment on His people: the Judahites broke the Mosaic Covenant. It also contains two laments that portray the tragedy of the situation and the Lord’s reluctance to send judgment. The final sub-section contains a symbolic action that pictures the horror of the people’s sin.” (Dr. Thomas Constable)​
• The Broken Covenant (11:1-17)​
• God had previously entered a covenant with Israel’s fathers at Mt. Sinai (Exodus 19-34)​
• The people of Judah had consistently broken that covenant resulting in their judgment as a nation

Breaking of the covenant had occurred during the reign of Josiah, possibly before the Book of the Lawwas found (roughly 621 B.C.; cf. 2 Chron. 34:8-33). In Jeremiah 11:1-2, the LORD turns Jeremiah’s gaze back to the Mosaic Law as a reminder of how the people were supposed to ​live. In Jeremiah 11:3-4, Yahweh announces a curse on all who ignore His Law. Because Israelites as a group/nation had entered into a covenant with Yahweh back at Mt. Sinai, the entire nation was now held accountable for their failure to continue following God’s Law.

Jeremiah 11:5 – obedience to the Law was the means by which God promised to bless Israel and failure to obey brought about not just a lack of blessing, but judgment. This is similar to being a Christian today. We are to live according to His Word and Will. Though we do not fall under God’s wrath or judgment, a failure to live as He wants us to live will result in loss of blessing.

Jeremiah 11:6-7  highlights the importance of obedience and was again stressed by God to Jeremiah so that he could relate it to the people of Judah. In Jeremiah 11:8-9, however the Israelites continually failed to obey. In fact, God calls it a conspiracy when the people returned to the previous iniquities of their forefathers rather than by obedience, live lives that honored God.

In Jeremiah 11:11-12 we are told the result of continued disobedience would be disaster by forcing the people to rely on their idols, which would result in that idols’ silence and failure. When Christians are out of His will, we often turn to our own strengths/beliefs to get something done instead of relying on and trusting in Him. This simply makes matters worse because of our pride in refusing to submit to Him and wait for His victory over areas of our lives.​

In Jeremiah 11:14 Yahweh again instructed Jeremiah to NOT pray for the Israelites because of their stiff necks. God warns that He would not answer that prayer if prayed. He was done. He had given the people of Judah as many chances as He felt they needed and to no avail.​

Because of God’s determined mindset, in 11:15 we learn that the Judahites had no right to expect anything from God because of their continued sin and lack of repentance. Judgment was coming and the only thing that might prevent it was if those in Judah turned to God in true repentance and a determination to obey God in all things.

That of course, did not occur and in 11:16 God says He was going to burn up the chaff of the nation in coming judgment. They had left Him no choice in the matter. 11:17 tells us God would bring evil on Israel because of their constant worship of Baal. The people of Judah not only worshiped false gods like Baal, but also tried to cover their bases by worshiping Yahweh as well. This was an absolute affront to God and needless to say, their “worship” of Him was not received because their loyalties were divided. As Christians, we must ensure we place nothing before God or He will discipline us, out of love for us.

Though Romans 8 tells us we will never come under any condemnation by God because we are in Christ, this does not mean He will never bring discipline into our lives for our wrongdoing.

As a father pities his children, so the LORD pities those who fear Him. ​For He knows our frame. He remembers that we are dust. (Psalm 103:13-14 NKJV)

Ultimately, God looks upon individual believers through the eyes of pity or compassion. He certainly understands our frame and remembers we are simply dust. At the same time, He will do what is needed in our life to bring us back to the narrow road that leads to life eternal when we fail to stay on that road. This is the difference between Israel and the Church. With Israel, God often dealt with those people as one nation. If the leaders were corrupt, He would bring judgment eventually onto the entire nation. Though some within that nation might be spared from the true harshness of His judgment because of their individual loyalty to God, ultimately, He was judging that nation. Where the Church is concerned, God deals with individual Christians within the Church who go astray or require judgment for sins undealt with that keep them from fellowship with God.

In Jeremiah 11:18-12:6 there is an attempt to kill the prophet Jeremiah. The people who wanted to kill him were from his own hometown of Anathoth. They didn’t like what Jeremiah was preaching and didn’t want to hear it. To force the issue, they threatened him with death if he continued preaching what they did not want to hear. God steps in and destroys those who threatened Jeremiah’s life (vv21-23).

Jeremiah’s Questions to God​
At one point, Jeremiah asks why the wicked prospered? Why are they seemingly happy? (12:1-4) It’s a good question and one we could ask today. But the answer is the same today as it was during Jeremiah’s day.

The Lord knew the righteousness of Jeremiah’s attitude and because Jeremiah was doing God’s will, God stepped into protect the prophet from death. Jeremiah then asks how long the coming judgment would last (v4).​

The Lord Responds​
God asks Jeremiah how he thinks he will be able to continue to endure considering the coming persecution (v5). Further, God points out to him that if he could not stand in a relatively peaceful environment, how would he fair as things grew worse?

God grieves about His ruined inheritance 12:7-13​

God was sad He had turned His people over to invaders, but Judah became a defiant lion against God. God was giving them up to be devoured (v9) and He would bring foreign enemies against Israel to devour them and destroy their vineyards (vv12-13).​

Death or life for Israel’s neighbors 12:14-17​
This oracle points ultimately to chapters 46-51 where God will bring judgment on the nations that destroy Israel. These included Egyptians, Assyrians, Edomites, Moabites, Ammonites, Arameans, and even the Babylonians. The LORD would ultimately have compassion on those who turned to Him.​

​The Linen Sash (13:1-11)​
In this section, the LORD told Jeremiah to wear a new sash without washing it first. He was then to hide it in a rock’s crevice. He was then told to retrieve it and saw that it was ruined, good for nothing (vv6-7). The object lesson is clear – God would destroy the pride of Judah (vv8-11) and He would so by bringing in other nation’s armies to do the job. They would leave nothing in their wake except destruction. Because Judah could not fight these armies off, their pride and trust in false idols would be shown for what it was and those remaining alive would turn to God.

The Parable of the Wine Jars (13:12-14)​
Another object lesson is given. Just as the people knew all the wine jars would be filled with wine, the Lord was going to fill them with the “wine” of His wrath. The people would be destroyed by their “drunkenness,” which was their “carousing” with false idols and dependence upon foreign nations instead of going to God. ​

Jeremiah offers a final plea to the people (13:15-17), which may have occurred during the deportation of Jehoiachin in 597 B.C. The start of the actual destruction began in 586 B.C. when Judah lost her independence.

Jerusalem’s incurable wickedness 13:20-27 ​
God through Jeremiah tells the people to look NORTH. They would see judgment coming with Babylon’s armies. However, the people continued in denial (v22) – they thought they had done nothing wrong. They were blind to their own sin and hubris. However, the Lord would uncover their skirts (a euphemism fora sexual attack), v26. This would happen because of how Judah had lusted after foreign gods and acted as the whore continually.

Application for Believers – Call to Genuine Faithfulness to God​
We must ensure that we place nothing ahead of God. We must daily dedicate ourselves to firmly following God’s will, not out of any sort of legalistic attitude but because we love God and want to please and glorify Him. We can be sure that our sin nature will work overtime against us to keep us from accomplishing what God wants us to accomplish.​

We must live in ways that please and glorify Him. Failing to do this, we will fall under His discipline, but not His condemnation. Being faithful to God occurs through practice. It is not something that occurs by accident!​

“Since none can abide His wrath, it is the part of wisdom to avail oneself of [His] provision of mercy to sinners.”(Charles G. Feinberg, Commentary on Nahum)

No one – Christians included – can stand under God’s righteous wrath. Fortunately, we will never experience His wrath. Discipline when needed? Yes, but not His wrath. Because of this, it is best to throw ourselves on His mercy. Without Him we are nothing. We Him, we are everything.

We must learn to live as people who desperately want His approval. We need His mercy. We need to develop an attitude that helps us understand our constant need for Him and His strength. Unlike the people of Judah, we must approach God honestly, confessing our sin, appropriating His forgiveness and His help in overcoming areas of our lives that do not bring Him glory.​

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective

Source: https://studygrowknowblog.com/2025/10/20/god-has-no-choice/