If you have raced with men on foot
and they have worn you out,
how can you compete with horses?
If you stumble in safe country,
how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan? Jeremiah12:5
Independence is a highly-valued trait in modern-society. To be sure, it is good to grow from the dependence of childhood to the independence of adulthood.
We need to learn to "carry the can", "shoulder the responsibility" and "face the music." BUT the reality bite that we must face is that there are a number of life circumstances that can wound us and sometimes even kill us emotionally, spiritually and even physically.
The Biblical Reality is that our problems don't disappear when we become people of faith. Jeremiah was called to a tough ministry and he was called to repeatedly and doggedly call God's people to repentance.
But Jeremiah had had enough - they weren't listening. He was done! Two verses earlier he says: "Drag them off like sheep to be butchered!"
One would imagine that God would come to him and say "Shame Jeremiah, you've done your best and they haven't listened - I bet you're feeling pretty upset...."
But God says: "You've raced with men (and lost) how will you compete with horses?"
There are two parts to this:
1. It's not gonna get any easier.
2. Do you think you'll make it on your own?
Let's be clear: God is _not_ taunting Jeremiah ("Is that the best you can do?") He is pushing him to the place of acknowledging that he needs help.
The reality bite we have to come to terms with is that there are some horses we cannot outrun on our own. The reality-byte we are offered here is that God knows that we have limits and wants us to recognise that we need His help.
---
--------------------------
Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
