Devastation…but not Completely!
By Karen Critch
September 15, 2019
The mood of this chapter is one of an immediate threat. The possibility of repentance is still open to Israel, but time is running out fast. Plans for death and mourning are already laid. The people seem doomed.
The first couple verses in this passage talk of a hot, strong wind. It is not a refreshing wind that cools the body and spirit but an overwhelming display of strength and force—a whirlwind. Moreover, the origin of the wind is God. God will be in the judgment and destruction. God will be active in the desolation of Judah.
For many, this is a disturbing understanding of God’s involvement in evil and punishment. Jeremiah sees God as an active participant (leader!) in using Babylon to punish Israel for its wrongdoings. To connect God so closely with destruction makes modern readers uncomfortable. We do not want to associate the Holy One with natural phenomena such as a strong wind or tornado. And we do not want to associate those types of events with punishment for sin.
There are four “I looked” sentences.
First, this watcher sees the earth turn back to “waste and void,”. This was the characteristic of the world at its beginning when watery chaos covered the earth. This world had no light because God had not spoken it into existence. The earth is undone and returns to this disordered state as God’s judgment.
Second, the watcher sees quaking mountains and rocking hills. Solid terrain becomes unstable.
Third, both people and birds have left because of the earth’s transformation. They flee because of the earth’s devastating transformation.
Fourth, the land that produced fruit and food transforms into an unproductive desert, while the cities are laid to ruin. Magnificent city structures are torn down.
Creation suffers because of people’s actions. The judgment against the people has a profound effect on the natural world and all its creatures.
The link between the judgment of the people and the desolation of creation is an essential reminder to us that our actions affect more than just ourselves. They affect more than just other people. The whole world is interrelated.
One might suppose that all hope is lost. Yet, even now, there is reason to hope. Even now, with cities laid in ruins, with neither bird nor human to be found, with the earth in mourning and the heavens covered in black. Even now when the earth is void and the heavens give no light. With mountains moving and the fruitful land a desert, even now, the relationship is not ended.
The message of the consequences of evil and the possibility of healing and wholeness is as today as it was in Jeremiah’s time.
People wonder why our God would even consider such devastation here on earth back then and now. Is it because evil outweighs good? Is a balance that needs to be met or if not, there will be consequences? Still today we see the damage through major forest fires, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes and of course humans. Why do these events still occur, have we not learned our lesson? On the west coast of Canada, you hear of the massive forest fires spreading over BC and Alberta this happens every year, but has it gotten worst yes. But after a forest fire what happens to the ashes which are full of nutrients are returned to the earth to help the trees that have survived the fire. Giving hope the forest will flourish again.
Or during the first world war where there was so much bloodshed between the world until one day in Flanders field a John McCrae wrote a poem. There were poppies growing over the graves where fallen soldiers lay, despite the despair the flowers gave hope to the Veterans and survivors. Thanks to his poem we wear the poppy today remembering that seen long ago giving hope for the Veterans and survivors.
The last couple of weeks our friends in the Bahamas were struck with a category 5 storm. I look at the devastation these storms cause yet again these storms are not uncommon they are happening more frequently and stronger each year. The whole chain of islands is faced with devastation, yet they still live there why. Is it because generally the weather is nice and the tourism industry? After the storm they start to rebuild their community with only to find out that another storm is on the way. What are these people feeling, what are they thinking how can they find hope in this situation? Just before the storm was announced there was help on the way, people were organizing backpacks of necessities needed for the people at this time.
This past week we remember the tragedy of 911, this was the 18th anniversary of when two planes would change a city a world. After going through the rubble there was a Callery pear tree found at ground zero. It was in bad shape roots snapped burned branches. This tree was taken from rubble and sent to Van Cortlandt Park where the NYC department of Parks and recreation nursed the tree back to health. The thought at first it would not survive but later returned in 2010 and is now know as the “Survivor Tree”. Now the tree has new growth which surrounds the old stump this clearly shows that not all hope is lost even through the worst devastation and gives us the strength to rebuild it times of great loss. This tree also spreads its hope across the world through its seedlings, there are three seedlings given out each year to the communities who have endured such tragedy & despair in turn giving them the hope they need to rebuild their future.
God’s affirmation of the divine decision to bring disaster, “I have not relented, nor will I turn back,” is not the last word. The decision not to relent combined with the decision not to make a full end of things leaves open the possibility for repentance and for a remnant to rebuild the nation. This glimmer of hope is present because, ultimately, God seeks healing and wholeness for the nation, not an end to the relationship. Who knows what is instore for us or what is yet to come, let us always find hope when all is thought to be lost! Amen.