“Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the men of Anathoth, who seek your life, and say, “Do not prophesy in the name of the Lord, or you will die by our hand”— therefore thus says the Lord of hosts: “Behold, I will punish them. The young men shall die by the sword, their sons and their daughters shall die by famine,” (Jeremiah 11:21–22, ESV)
It was a major league baseball game between the Atlanta Breves and the Pittsburg Pirates. The Pirates were up to bat. The Pitcher threw the ball and outfielder Danny Ortiz swung the bat. However, Ortiz lost his grip of the bat and it flew directly into the stadium seats, right at a 9-year-old boy, Landon. It was headed right at Landon’s face, which would have done major damage to the child. However, in an instant, Landon’s father, Shaun, reached out his hand and blocked the bat, taking the full force of the impact on his own arm. He had protected his son from severe injury.
This real-life incident is a picture of the protection that our Heavenly Father provides for each of us as believers in Jesus.
In this passage we see that there were some in Israel, the men of Anathoth, who were out to take Jeremiah’s life. It was because he was preaching the Lord’s message, one of condemnation against the people for their apostasy and idolatry. Even though there was resistance to the message, Jeremiah continued to preach God’s word obediently.
Yet in these words of the Lord, we see something of great encouragement for us. As Jeremiah was being obedient to what the Lord had called to do, the Lord would protect him on the mission. He tells Jeremiah regarding these people who are out to do him harm, “I will punish them. The young men shall die by the sword, their sons and their daughters shall die by famine.” The Lord would provide Jeremiah with divine protection while he completed everything the Lord ordained for him to do.
I have heard many preachers use this sentiment to describe our life of ministry.
“We are indestructible until we have fully completed the work that God has called us to do here on earth. After our work is complete, He takes us home to glory.”
Consider the soldier for a second. He may be sent overseas for a tour of duty in armed conflict. It is not always a comfortable time. In fact, in the tour there are many times of discomfort, stress, and conflict. Yet at the end of his overseas combat tour, he returns home to the United States and enjoys rest from the havoc of war, peace, and glory.
It is the same for every believer. We are soldiers called into a spiritual battle on this earth. We currently are away from our heavenly home fighting in this conflict. While we are here, the Heavenly Father has His arm of protection out for us. He does so for the full time of our earthly tour of duty. Then, when our tour of duty here is fully completed, the Lord takes us to our home in glory. There is where we will have perfect rest from the struggles of this life and experience the glory of God. Paul wrote this.
“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:17–18, ESV)
Renewing the Heart 