Is God Listening Jeremiah 11:1-17

“Therefore thus says the LORD, “Behold I am bringing disaster on them which they will not be able to escape; though they will cry to Me, yet I will not listen to them” (Jer. 11:11, NASB).

The world is in turmoil. These days are often described as “uncertain days.” We know that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused the death of over 100,000 people in the United States alone; in addition to thousands of lives around the world. George Floyd is murdered at the hands of three police officers on May 25, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This incident takes place just days after Breonna Mitchell is killed when police storm into her home without a warning, shooting Breonna and her boyfriend. The death of innocent Black unarmed people reaches a boiling point. The results are peaceful protest and violent outbursts that destroy property and more innocent people are injured and killed. These outbursts are not limited to the United States alone. Rather, protests and violence spread throughout the world. In the midst of all this turmoil is there anyone praying? If people are praying, is God listening to the prayers of His People? The book of Jeremiah might suggest to us how God responds to the chaos that we find ourselves in.

God calls Jeremiah to be a prophet in the days prior to Judah, the southern kingdom of a divided Israel, into exile to Babylon (Jer. 1:1-3). Now, let us be clear. A prophet is not a foreteller. Instead, a prophet is a forth teller. What is the difference you might ask? A foreteller is one that tells what is going to take place in the future. On the other hand, a prophet bring to us the word of the Lord concerning things that have taken place in the past; the things that are taking place at the present time; and things that will take place in the future. Why is this important?

God calls prophets to tell the people what He is going to do (Jer. 1:10:10). God does not act without cause. Therefore, the Lord calls a prophet to take to the people a message warning the people of their action; warning them of God’s judgment, and a message of hope because God’s judgment is not to utterly destroy them. Instead, God’s purpose is to bring the people to repentance and restoration to their former relationship with God. God is going to bring His people back to their own land when they have suffered enough to repent of their sins and they seek His face (Jer. 29:10-14).

In many religious circles today Jeremiah 29:11 is quoted. It is used to suggest properly that God has plans for His people. “‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’” declares the LORD, “‘plans for welfare and not calamity to give you a future and a hope’” (v. 11, NASB). However, too often people fail to see that God’s plans are conditional for their future. “‘Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart’” (vv. 12-13, NASB). With this in mind, let us return to the question of our article. “Is God listening?”

Jeremiah 11 begins with the prophet giving a warning for all those that break the covenant (11:1-5). When God first gives the Israelites His covenant, God warns them of the consequences if they break the covenant (v. 7). Yet, their fathers broke the covenant and the Lord tells Jeremiah that Judah too is living in disobedience to the covenant. “They have turned back to the iniquities of their ancestors who refused to hear My words, and they have gone after other gods to serve them; the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken My covenant which I made with their fathers” (11:10, NASB). Listen to the warning.

“Therefore thus says the LORD, ‘Behold I am bringing disaster on them which they will not be able to escape; though they will cry to Me, yet I will not listen to them” (v. 11, NASB). Now, this verse throws mud on almost every discussion that I have ever heard in church on the question, “Does God always answer our prayers?” Almost always the conclusion is God does answer all of our prayers. Three statements are usually made. “Sometimes He says yes.” “Sometimes He says no.” “Sometime we just have to wait for an answer.” This is not the answer that the Lord is giving to Judah. Yes, the people will cry out to God, but God will not listen to their cries, “yet I will not listen to them.” What will the people do when they realize that the Lord is not hearing their cries?

Through the prophet, the Lords says, “Then the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will go and cry to the gods to whom they burn incense, but they surely will not save them in the time of their disaster” (V.12, NASB). In verse thirteen the prophet describes the people’s worship of the gods that they are calling upon. Since the people are calling on the gods, God says to the prophet, “Therefore, do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them; for I will not listen when they call to Me because of their disaster” (v.14).

Is there anyone praying? Is God listening? There is a lot of marching in protest. There are loud cries of people demanding that their voices be heard. There is the demand for change. People are tired and they are demanding that something be done. Black Lives Matter is the cry of people around the world. Everyone has an opinion. People everywhere are getting involved in this great movement that is demanding change. The issues must be addressed. The problems are clearly stated even though there are people that disagree with the stated problems. A few possible solutions are called for but the methods are not universally agreed upon by those that agree upon what the problems are.

Maybe we don’t really know what the problems are. Could it be that the stated problems are only symptoms of the diseases? Could it be that the coronavirus that preceded the protests and violence and destruction is an indicator of the nature of our social and political problems? The disease is caused by a virus that little is known about. The treatments proposed are controversial. There is no known cure. It is not known how long it will take for scientists to develop a vaccine that prevents the spread of the disease. Scientists have set guidelines to prevent the spread of the disease, but there are a lot of people that refuse to follow the guidelines.

Systemic racism, racial oppression, police brutality are clearly seen as problems that plague our world. Are these things the problem? Maybe these are just symptoms of a disease that the world knows very little about; including the cause, the treatment, prevention and outcomes. Is anybody paying? Is God listening? It seems to me that we are suffering the disasters that the Lord has brought upon us because we have broken God’s covenant. We no longer serve the Lord. Instead we worship the gods of money, fame, selfishness, greed, and hostilities toward people not like us. Do we no longer know what sin is? Do we no longer submit to God’s commands? Is anybody praying? Is God listening?