Astonishment when God speaks from an unbeliever

Jeremiah 40:1-6

What does it look like when a Pagan has more faith than those who claim to be followers of God?  I will never forget a time in my life when I was allowing my flesh to rule and a non-believer who I was living with made this comment; I thought you claimed to be a Christian that is not Christian!  It was as if God Himself had spoken to me, for I knew that the words that had come from my mouth were of my flesh, and not from God, and I knew my friend had nailed me.

The captain of the guard for Nebuchadnezzar was a man named Nebuzaradan, and he is at Ramah and Jeremiah is in chains along with all the other exiles of Jerusalem.  They are heading for Babylon when Nebuzaradan removes the chains from Jeremiah and shares these words with him.  Now it may be of importance to know that Ramah is about five miles from Jerusalem.  You may also find it of some interest that the Babylonian pay close attention to the beliefs of their enemies, to wage psychological warfare against them.

When Nebuzaradan found Jeremiah in chains, he released him and this was the conversation they exchanged: “The captain of the guard took Jeremiah and said to him, “The Lord your God pronounced this disaster against this place. The Lord has brought it about and has done as he said. Because you sinned against the Lord and did not obey his voice, this thing has come upon you. Now, behold, I release you today from the chains on your hands. If it seems good to you to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will look after you well, but if it seems wrong to you to come with me to Babylon, do not come. See, the whole land is before you; go wherever you think it good and right to go. If you remain, then return to Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon appointed governor of the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people. Or go wherever you think it right to go.” So the captain of the guard gave him an allowance of food and a present, and let him go. Then Jeremiah went to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, at Mizpah, and lived with him among the people who were left in the land.”

The sadist news of all is God has spoken to mankind from a bush, a rock, a donkey, and from the heavens above, and we are astonished when He speaks to us from an unbeliever.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice