Jeremiah 5:14
Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of hosts:
“Because you have spoken this word,
behold, I am making my words in your mouth a fire,
and this people wood, and the fire shall consume them.
As Jeremiah continued to tell the people the truth from God, the people continued to rebel. But God made it clear to Jeremiah that nobody will refuse the word of God without consequence. Oh, it may seem for a time like people get away with disobeying the commands of the Lord, but it will not last.
The imagery of verse 14 is terrifying. God tells Jeremiah that his words, the word of God, will be a fire to the people who will be kindled like wood. Just as we see in Revelation 11, where the two witnesses breathe out fire against the enemies of God, so here we see that the word of God, spoken by a servant of God, becomes the fire of the wrath of God against those who reject that word.
The word of God is a beautiful gift. It is amazingly kind of God to show us his word and allow us to know him and his ways through it. However, the word of God is also deadly. God giving us his word makes us even more accountable to obey it. As we hear the word, we have a choice: either we obey and are blessed or disobey and find ourselves in trouble with the Creator.
What will God’s word be to you? Will you hear God’s word, obey it, and find the blessing of being his child? Will you follow God’s word, run to Jesus for grace, and obey his commands for joy? Or will you be like a twig in the fire? Will you allow the word of God to pronounce your judgment because you refuse to humble yourself, repent of sin, run to Jesus, and obey the word of the Lord?
Pastor Travis Peterson 