Baruch receives a message too

JEREMIAH     CHAPTER 45

Jeremiah gave a message to Baruch and after Baruch had written it all down, Jeremiah told him that he understood Baruch was troubled. Baruch was upset because he felt enough pain already and yet the Lord added more. Baruch was weary.

However, Jeremiah assured Baruch that the Lord had promised disaster upon the nation but would protect his servant Baruch. Now the Lord was telling Baruch to not seek great things for himself, but to continue to focus on God's will.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: This chapter was written in 605-604 B.C. Baruch was a scribe who recorded Jeremiah's words on a scroll.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? This is a very short chapter with a large message. The events happened hundreds of years before the coming of Jesus Christ. Often evidence is found in history and we are fortunate to be able to pinpoint the times.

Baruch was a scribe, so he was able to read an write, which was not a common thing in those days. Writing on scrolls was a precise skill. He may have come from a prominent family who made sure he was given these skills.  Try to imagine him serving the prophet Jeremiah, an unpopular prophet, a lonely, spat-upon man in society. Yet God gave Baruch to Jeremiah to become his eyes and to write for him on scrolls.

Now after serving God through Jeremiah for some time, God gives Baruch the news that he must not seek great things for himself, but must focus upon the greater picture-that is God. In return, God would let him live through the disaster of Israel being destroyed. And in his effort to serve God, Baruch would be protected wherever he went.

It must have been a bit disheartening for Baruch to hear such news. Or was Baruch the kind of man who could ask God's forgiveness for focusing on what he was giving up? I like to think he was the latter kind of man. The Bible does not tell us. And I am always amazed at those true believers who sacrificed so much during the days of the kings.

Do you think we have such strong individuals like Jeremiah and Baruch in our time, I like to think we do. I like to think God plants seeds in the strongest minds and though true prophets are rare, I like to think they exist in our time too.


Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:


HEALTH:

Pray for my grandson and new baby Gunar who was born with kidney problems.

Pray for Gabe.

Pray for Gary and Steve my insurance men who have prostate cancer.

Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.

Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer and who recently underwent major surgery.

Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with a form of MS.

Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.

Pray for Gary Summers, my friend from church, who has cancer.

Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who has been undergoing chemo. Pray also for Charly who longs to be 100 percent again and walk without an aid.

Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.

SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary

RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John

LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian

SUPPORT: Pray for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom. Pray for our farmers and those who raise livestock during this terrible drought.