Good morning, thank you for staying with us as we read Jeremiah 10–13 today.
The Power of Believable Lies
As a teen, I lived next door to a nice family. I liked to think of myself as someone smarter than I was. At night I would go over to their backyard, and the younger children would listen to me as I told them stories. We would all close our eyes, and I would describe what I could see as a spectral locomotive barreling toward us. It is funny how people will believe almost anything if the story is entertaining enough. Afterwards, I would ask the kids what they were seeing, and they would add details, each making them up as they went but buying into the lie and building upon it. This came to my mind as I read, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the heavens, though the nations are terrified by them.’” (Jer 10:2, NIV)
Old Stories and New Idols
The people of Jeremiah’s day were very familiar with all that God had done for their ancestors. But they had grown tired of the old tales. It would be like hearing an Aesop’s fable or a Grimm’s story. They had lost the ability to stir their emotions. So, they began believing in idols from the villages they had conquered. This was why God had them kill all the inhabitants (1 Sam 15).

Now they had their Temple and were acting like good Jews on the outside, but inside they were seeking after astrologers, spiritists and worshipping other gods like Baal.
The Price of Disobedience
Therefore, Jeremiah was telling them God was sending destruction to these symbolic things they were placing their faith in. He was letting them know that even the Temple would fall to destruction and someone would take them captive (Jer 10:17–18).

As a prophet of the Lord, Jeremiah prays for his people. He reminds God that the people are not in control of their lives, but are subject to God’s will (Jer 10:23). So he asks that God punish the nations that were causing the people to stray (Jer 10:25).
When God Is Not First
God reminds him that with the blessing of having a relationship with the Lord, they have a responsibility to obey His commands (Jer 11:4). He points out they have not kept that covenant (Jer 11:8–10), saying, “You, Judah, have as many gods as you have towns.” (Jer 11:13, NIV)

We need to take this as a warning to ourselves. How many things are we more focused on than God? Do we put our faith in our careers, our bank accounts? Are we trusting in our service—even our service to the church—to save us? Do we spend more time watching television or social media than we study God’s Word?
Trying to Earn God’s Favor
We read in Chapter 12 that Jeremiah complains about the wicked people, who have more than the righteous people. Do we not weary of doing right when it seems like those who live the worldly life are having more fun and success than we are? (Jer 12:1)

I will try to do more for the church, not because I love God—though I do. But I double my efforts because I feel I need His blessing more. When I am going through a valley, it is a natural response to think I can somehow earn more of God’s favor. Instead of accepting that He has me in a valley for a reason, I try to earn my way out of it. God sees my works as dirty rags (Isa 64:6). To Jeremiah He gives this command to get a belt. Jeremiah shows his obedience. The result is a useless, dirty belt (Jer 13:1–7).
Captivity, Consequence, and Grace
We are all captives of sin. It is our master and controls much of what we do and why. Therefore, God is letting them know He is letting them go into captivity. The only way out of it is to “give glory to the Lord your God.” (Jer 13:16)

God does not enjoy putting us through these trials, but weeps over the need to do so (Jer 13:17). But it is in those situations that enable us to shake off the bonds of sin and return with our whole hearts to Him. So when these seasons come, we ask: “Why has this happened to me?” (Jer 13:22) As in the days of Jeremiah, it is because of our many sins.
The Need for God’s Power to Change
Can we change this pattern? I don’t think we can on our own. As verse 13:23 asks, “Can an Ethiopian change his skin or a leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil.” (NIV)

But through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, God can change us. Trials lead us to a place where we will call on that power.
Tomorrow, we will read Jeremiah 14-17.
Cited works:

Aesop. Aesop’s Fables. Translated by George Fyler Townsend. London: George Routledge and Sons, 1867.

Grimm, Jacob and Wilhelm. Grimm’s Fairy Tales. Translated by Margaret Hunt. London: George Bell and Sons, 1884.