Big Mistake - and Man's Best

 Jeremiah 49:1-6

I had to look into my Study Bible for help on the Ammonites, it referred me to Genesis 19:36-38, “So both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their father. The firstborn gave birth to a son and named him Moab. He is the father of the Moabites of today. The younger also gave birth to a son, and she named him Ben-ammi. He is the father of the Ammonites of today.”  I had written this note in my Bible, “big mistake, and man’s best.”  Lot’s daughters used their human wisdom, but their actions or blunders were like their Uncle Abraham who did not inquire of God but had a child by his wife’s servant.  That act of not obeying God and believing His promise of a son by Sarah has brought about the Muslim’s political system that was an enemy of Israel and Judah and now wants to dominate the world.

Now it may help you understand verses 1-3 by reading Numbers 32:1-39, when God speaks of Milcom or Molech it is the god of the Ammonites, and it means “the king.”  And these verses are referring to the dispute between the Ammonites and Gad over the land.  The question asked was should the Ammonites and its god have the ability to evict the people of Gad?

A religious people no matter how foolish the religion never wants anyone to make light of their little gods.  Have we not seen those of the Muslim faith who target and kill anyone who makes light of Muhammad?   Religion’s end game is death that is why I’m a follower of Christ, His end game is life, and these are His words; “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”  Jesus came into the world not to condemn the world but to bring salvation to all who would put their trust in Him.  Love over comes fear, but fear brings about hate, and hate always wants to harm the object of its hate.  I’ve read the Hebrews refused to pronounce it in a way that signified “king” and they changed out the vowels of “o” and “e” from the Hebrew word bosheth meaning “shame.”

As we read verses 3-6, we see a confused people, a foolish but proud people who have no understanding that their little god Milcom cannot stand against the God of Creation.  So these are God’s messages to them found in Jeremiah 49:5-6: “Behold, I will bring terror upon you, declares the Lord GOD of hosts, from all who are around you, and you shall be driven out, every man straight before him, with none to gather the fugitives.  “But afterward I will restore the fortunes of the Ammonites, declares the LORD.” 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice