Jeremiah 46:13-28: a reflection

13The word that the LORD spoke to Jeremiah the prophet, how that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon should come and strike the land of Egypt: 14“Declare in Egypt, publish in Migdol, and publish in Memphis and in Tahpanhes; say, ‘Stand up, and prepare, for the sword has devoured around you.’ 15Why are your strong ones swept away? They didn’t stand, because the LORD pushed them. 16He made many to stumble. Yes, they fell on one another. They said, ‘Arise! Let’s go again to our own people, and to the land of our birth, from the oppressing sword.’ 17They cried there, ‘Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise; he has let the appointed time pass by.’ 18“As I live,” says the King, whose name is the LORD of Armies, “surely like Tabor among the mountains, and like Carmel by the sea, so he will come. 19You daughter who dwells in Egypt, furnish yourself to go into captivity; for Memphis will become a desolation, and will be burned up, without inhabitant. 20“Egypt is a very beautiful heifer; but destruction out of the north has come. It has come. 21Also her hired men in the middle of her are like calves of the stall, for they also are turned back. They have fled away together. They didn’t stand, for the day of their calamity has come on them, the time of their visitation. 22Its sound will go like the serpent, for they will march with an army, and come against her with axes, as wood cutters. 23They will cut down her forest,” says the LORD, “though it can’t be searched; because they are more than the locusts, and are innumerable. 24The daughter of Egypt will be disappointed; she will be delivered into the hand of the people of the north.” 25The LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Behold, I will punish Amon of No, and Pharaoh, and Egypt, with her gods and her kings, even Pharaoh, and those who trust in him. 26I will deliver them into the hand of those who seek their lives, and into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of his servants. Afterwards it will be inhabited, as in the days of old,” says the LORD. 27“But don’t you be afraid, Jacob my servant. Don’t be dismayed, Israel; for, behold, I will save you from afar, and your offspring from the land of their captivity. Jacob will return, and will be quiet and at ease. No one will make him afraid. 28Don’t be afraid, O Jacob my servant,” says the LORD, “for I am with you; for I will make a full end of all the nations where I have driven you, but I will not make a full end of you, but I will correct you in measure, and will in no way leave you unpunished.”

In the midst of pronouncing judgment on the nations, God turns to speak comfort to his own people, and the ground of the comfort is his presence. Don't you be afraid, Jacob my servant, he says. Don't be dismayed, Israel; for, behold, I am with you. Whatever upheaval was coming upon the nations, God's people were not to be afraid, and the reason he gives is simply this: I am with you. The presence of God with his people was the ground of their courage; they need not fear, not because there was no danger, but because God was with them. His presence, not the absence of trouble, was the reason not to be afraid.

Notice the ground God gives for not being afraid: I am with you. He does not tell his people there will be no trouble, no upheaval; the nations were being shaken. But he tells them not to be afraid, and the reason is his presence: I am with you. The ground of their courage was not the absence of danger, but the presence of God. Because God was with them, they need not fear, whatever came. His presence was the answer to their fear, the reason not to be dismayed. Do not be afraid, for I am with you: the presence of God, not the absence of trouble, was the ground of their peace. God's being with them was enough to still their fear.

That is worth taking to heart, for God's presence with us is the ground for not being afraid, even amid upheaval. We face fearful times, upheaval, danger, trouble all around; and we can be afraid, looking at the danger. But God's word to his people was, do not be afraid, for I am with you; the ground of their courage was his presence, not the absence of trouble. God's presence with us is the answer to our fear, whatever comes. When you are afraid amid upheaval and danger, remember that God is with you; his presence, not the absence of trouble, is the ground for not being afraid. Do not be afraid amid upheaval and danger, for God is with you; his presence is the ground of your courage, as God told Jacob not to be afraid, for I am with you; for the ground of not being afraid is not the absence of trouble but the presence of God, and because he is with us we need not fear, whatever comes.

Lord, in the midst of pronouncing judgment on the nations, you turn to speak comfort to your own people, and the ground of the comfort is your presence. Don't you be afraid, Jacob my servant, you say. Don't be dismayed, Israel; for, behold, I am with you. Whatever upheaval was coming upon the nations, your people were not to be afraid, and the reason you give is simply this: I am with you. Your presence with your people was the ground of their courage; they need not fear, not because there was no danger, but because you were with them. Show me the ground you give for not being afraid: I am with you. You do not tell your people there will be no trouble, no upheaval; the nations were being shaken. But you tell them not to be afraid, and the reason is your presence: I am with you. The ground of their courage was not the absence of danger, but your presence. Because you were with them, they need not fear, whatever came. Your presence was the answer to their fear. Take that to my heart, for your presence with me is the ground for not being afraid, even amid upheaval. I face fearful times, upheaval, danger, trouble all around; and I can be afraid, looking at the danger. But your word to your people was, do not be afraid, for I am with you. Your presence with me is the answer to my fear, whatever comes. When I am afraid amid upheaval and danger, help me remember that you are with me, Lord; your presence, not the absence of trouble, is the ground for not being afraid, as you told Jacob not to be afraid, for I am with you.