By: General James Green
I begin my second text (2) found in Jeremiah chapter 26 where We find the word “relent” (NKJV/ “repent,” KJV). But for the LORD to relent/repent over the pending punishment upon His sinning/ unrepentant people, they must REPENT, TURN, hence, conditional: their repenting causes the LORD to change His mind.
As we read from Jeremiah 18:8, where we find the “if”/ “then” clause: “If that nation against whom I have spoken TURNS from its EVIL, (then) I will RELENT of the DISASTER that I thought to bring upon it.” (v.8). We find the “if”/ “then” clause again in v.10.
-Chapter 26-
Here Jeremiah was commanded by God to speak All the Words that He was to speak against His people (v.2). The Prophet was not to compromise in the least (as so many have done & still do today – to ease the “HARSH & UNLOVING” tone). The LORD told Jeremiah, “Perhaps everyone will listen & TURN from his (their) EVIL WAY, that I may RELENT (REPENT) concerning the calamity which I purpose to bring on them because of the EVIL of their doings,” v.3. I have written dozens & dozens of articles (from the early 1980s to today) on the judgments/ punishments of God. Why does the Church (with exceptions) still insist that God would never, ever punish His people, for He is a God of loving compassion & mercy. He certainly is this BUT He is also the God of WRATH – FURY – & INDIGNATION!!!
Concerning that Word “calamity,” we read what Isaiah the Prophet has written about it:
“I form the light & create darkness, I make peace & create calamity; I, the LORD, do all these things.” – Isa. 45:7, NKJV; The KJV has “evil” in the place of “calamity.” Simply put, “calamity” or “evil” means (in Hebrew – “ra;” see Strong’s #7451= “adversity, affliction, bad, evil, displeasure, distress, grief, harm, hurt, mischief, misery, woe, sorrow, trouble,” from 7489= “râ ‘a’” = “to spoil (lit. by breaking to pieces); fig. to make good for nothing, i.e. bad, afflict, displease, bring evil upon, do harm, hurt, punish, vex, do wicked, do worse.” Got that??? God does not do moral evil but uses/ sends/ allows physical evil.
-Back to Jer. 26-
So, dear reader, the LORD is loving in the sense that He gives His sinning people a time & a chance to repent before He executes His EVIL upon them. “IF” they turn, “then” He RELENTS:
“And you shall say to them, ‘thus says the LORD: IF you will not listen to Me, to walk in My law which I have set before you, to heed the words of My servants the Prophets whom I sent to you, both rising up early & sending them (but you have not heeded), THEN I will make this house like Shiloh, & will make this city a CURSE to all the nations of the earth,” vv. 4-6, NKV.
How did this go down with the house of Israel? Verse 8 tells us – “… all the people seized him (Jeremiah), saying, ‘you will surely die!’.”
Do you suppose this attitude resides in & among the Church of America today? How about among the people themselves?
Chapter 26: Jeremiah goes into the court of the LORD’s house; & foretells the DESTRUCTION (i.e., EVIL) of the temple & city, if not prevented by the speedy repentance of the people, Vv. 1-7. By this scathing & unwelcome prophecy, the Prophet’s life was in grave danger.
Verses 3 & 4 have the “if” (per chance) word; verses 6 we find the “then” word. No repentance, no lifting of the evil intended.
[note Jer. 7 reads somewhat like Jer. 26. Note the “if” word used in Vv. 5 (twice) & 6; the “then” word used in v.7; we see the “if”/ “then” in Jer. 25:28].
The people of Israel were so irate over the Words of the LORD, they wanted Jeremiah DEAD!!! (Sounds like many in today’s liberal Church & woke politics).
The prophet was persistent:
“Therefore, now amend your ways & your doings, & obey the voice of the LORD your God; & the LORD will REPENT/ RELENT Him of the EVIL that He hath pronounced against you.” v. 3. Now turn to verse 19: “Did Hezekiah, King of all of Judah put him at all to death? Did he not fear the LORD, & besought the LORD, & the LORD REPENTED Him of the EVIL which he had pronounced against them? Thus, might we procure great EVIL against our souls.”
There were times (as in our time) when the LORD would not REPENT or RELENT. Jer. 4.28 tells us, “…because I have spoken it (judgment), I have purposed it & will NOT REPENT, neither will I turn back from it.”
What do we make of Num. 23: 19?:
“God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, & will He not? Or has He spoken, & will He not make it good?”
To answer this, we need to read Mal. 3:6, “For I am the LORD, I do not change…” (see Rom. 11:29 & Lam. 3:22). The truth is: God is the God of both “love” & “hate” (see my articles proving this); He is the God that will & can repent “if” His people meet His conditions in order to stay His judgments/ punishments. He will not repent for whatever reason. He decides / we decide as well.
The LORD both repents & holds back from the same; He never changes – this in his Holy nature.
While we may get MAD at the Prophets for their harsh, unloving, & judgmental words, which are the LORD’s Words, we need to recognize that the LORD/Lord tries to save souls from “ra”, i.e., “evil.” The whole New Testament is of such.
Why is it that repentance has become such a pain in the a** to many church folks? Look at the sorry condition our nation is in because God’s Word is not kept, thus no covering, only the dirty blanket of Wokeness, political correctness, socialism/communism, LGBTQ plus uncleanness, et al.
Take time to read those prophetic Words of the Spirit. (Given by Prophet Deborah Green at jesuscallstoall.com). “IF” we will repent of our sinful ways & deeds, “THEN’ the LORD will forgive us. “IF” we do not, “THEN” we will experience MORE Wrath – Fury – Indignation. This is not a threat; this is a promise!!!