Inasmuch as there is none like you O LORD You are great and Your name is great in might, Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? For this is Your rightful due. For among all the wise men of the nations, And in all the their kingdoms, There is none like You (Jeremiah 10:6-7).
God's judgment on the children of Israel was evident because of their sin of idolatry. After several warnings, they refuse to desist from their evil ways of forsaking God and burning incense unto Baal (Jeremiah 19:4-5, 16:10-12, 18, 25:4-6, 32:32-36). Consequently, evil proclamation was released against them and God promised to turn Tophet into a valley of slaughter. Prior to this time, it was the valley of the sons of Hinnom, but there will be death and massive grave until there will be no more place for burying people because there they have raised a high place, shed innocent blood and burn their sons to Baal (Jeremiah 19:11-12). Since you delight in ritual sacrifice of your sons, God said don't worry I will make it a place of multiple death and destruction for you. They were not sure of what God was up to, so they enquire more carefully from Jeremiah and he plainly told them the mind of God. Though they were mindful of not going into captivity in Babylon but God told them that they will surely be taken there. Not only that, even before Nebuchadnezzar captures them, God will fight and deal with them Himself (Jeremiah 21:5-7). At this time, idolatry is taking serious footing in Israel, and God will not brush aside this evil or pretend it doesn't exist. God, the awesome one deserves to be worshipped for there is none like Him but His chosen people would not wholly serve nor worship Him (2 Kings 17:32-33, Isaiah 2:6-8). Even the three wise men travelled from far East to worship His Son Jesus (Matthew 2:2). And when Pashur, the son of Immer, the priest and governor contested it, God gave mysterious and terrible judgment concerning him in Jeremiah 20:4-6 "a man being a terror to himself" Worse still, in our days inconceivable and incredible things are happening as people delight to worship the god of this world "Satan" because of the goodies they believe he offers.
Instead of admitting their evil deeds and turning to God, they spoke proudly and harshly against Jeremiah. These people are bent on their ways, even the remnant who were not taken into captivity in Babylon were desirous of Egypt, they claimed the prophet of God was lying "You speak falsely !The Lord our God has not send you to say, "Do not go to Egypt to dwell there" (Jeremiah 43:2b). These same people (the remnant of Judah), in their hypocrisy pretended as if they were set to obey God, they promised Jeremiah that they will do all that God commands (Jeremiah 42:5-6), and one would thing that they were serious but not at all. They suddenly change for their mind is set on evil. What a contradiction! Jeremiah equally told them the doom that awaits them should they stubbornly embark on their evil mission. When people pay lip service to God, claim to be His children but passionately yearn after the gods of Egypt there will be trouble. Their audacity is without measure as they were set on self-destruction mission, the evil (idolatry) is entrenched in them (Jeremiah 43:7, Hosea 2:8b-9 &13). The remnant of Judah that supposed to be grateful to God, obedient and abiding by His rules chose course for themselves and God was not in it. So, God told them that since you decided not to remain in the land of Judah, even where you have gone to for covering, protection, shield, and provision, there I will judge you (strike you). God promised to unleash punishment on the children of Israel who fled to Egypt for refuge (Isaiah 47:10-15, Jeremiah 10:11, 43:11-13, 44:6-8, 46:25). Even the gods of Egypt and other places you flee to (Jeremiah 48:35a) will fill the impact of the God' s wrath and judgment because they will not be spared. Yet, the children of Israel hardened their minds because of the covenant they have established with these gods whom they claim gave them abundance and satisfaction (Jeremiah 44:17-18).
Continued worship of idols and lesser gods bring devastation, famine, untold hardship and chaos. When men forsake God and serve lesser gods, they cannot expect His blessings or help. God cannot give the benefit of saints to sinners. God told the children of Israel-His covenant people that since you have forsaken the cold waters that flows from God for strange waters (Jeremiah 18:14b-16) and have followed idols be ready for the consequences of your actions. Because Egypt and her gods spiritually typify abominations; that which God hates and abhors, and it also stands for idolatry and bondage. So, God warned the children of Israel of not getting polluted and contaminated by them. God also told them that he would not tolerate His people in Egypt to say "The Lord lives" (Jeremiah 44:26b, 17:13a). Hence, it will not be possible for anyone in Egypt serving other gods and still calling on the name of the Lord. God will only accept those who are truly His, those who repent and forsake their evil ways. It is not enough to confess and have a remorseful attitude toward sins and be going back and forth repeatedly in and out of sins without complete turning around. The grace and mercy of God will only be available to the truly repentant hearts. Unfortunately, many are hardening their heart still just like the Israelites in the days of Prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 19:15), even during the great tribulation, when the sixth angel who had the trumpet released the four angels bound at the great river Euphrates who had been prepared for one year, one month and one day to destroy one-third of the earth (Revelation 9:13-20), those who survived (not killed by the plague) will not repent of their idolatry. But God desired that His people should change and come back to Him but they would not (Jeremiah 13:25) and as sash was ruined unusable so will be the portion of those who proceed with sorceries/idolatry/occultism (Jeremiah 13:10-11, 16:13b, 20, 17:11). The only way to avert judgment is contingent on acknowledgment of one's evil ways and turning back to God, because God will never endorse what He did not approve.
Jeremiah, God's servant, on the other hand was feeling the heat from the rebels he was sent to who will never yield nor budge. Overwhelmed by the torture he received, he almost gave up the assignment. And with this unpopular ministry in his days, he recounted his experience and it was not pleasant at all for evil men were all over lying in wait to harm him ( Micah 7:2b-3, Jeremiah 5:26, 11:19, 18:19-20, 20:8). He told God in Jeremiah chapter 20 verse 7: "if not that you induced me I wouldn't have gone into this" I don't know engaging in this type of ministry will cause me shame, loneliness, ridicule etc. Though cast down and discouraged, then, he realized that God who called him for service is awesome and his bold declaration (Jeremiah 20:11) gave him fortitude to hang on. He also acknowledges that God's power never fails to deliver, so, he praised Him (Jeremiah 20:13). Yet, the despicable act of intolerance of the children of Israel to the prophet of God who has painstakingly revealed the mind of God of them coupled with disobedience to God's commands is boundless. They were incorrigible, recalcitrant, and complacent towards renouncing and abandoning idol worship (Isaiah 30:1-3, 40:18-20, 44:2-22, 57:5-13), still, Jeremiah approves the worship of God alone (Jeremiah 10:10-11, Isaiah 41:24, 29). He told them of the acts of God and why they have to worship Him-In as much as there is none like you O Lord." And truly there is none like him. He contrasted the worship of the God with the idols (graven images) that men worship. These idols cannot save (Jeremiah 11:12-13) and prophet Isaiah talked about the futility of idol worship (Isaiah 45:23b). The psalmist however reminded the saints that God is awesome (Psalm 47:2, 4) and deserves to be worshipped as there is none like Him in all the earth. King David as well acknowledges Him (2 Samuel 7:22-24), Nebuchadnezzar, an heathen king, also decree that people should tremble and fear before this awesome God (Daniel 6:26).
Paul, the Apostle, excitedly proceeded in his missionary journey in Ephesus after his exploits when after his preaching, many were converted and gathered their magical charms and books and burnt them (Acts19:19-21). But he and his team were vehemently resisted and challenged by the worshippers of "Diana"the goddess of Ephesus. These people would not want anything or anyone to tamper with their business and worship (Acts 19:26). Dimestrus in particularly, a sliver smith who carve image of the Diana and sells to people instigated an uncalled for uproar against Paul. He knows assuredly that this new move will affect his business, so, he solicited for the help from his countrymen to counter Paul's activities in Ephesus. And the Devil supplied them an unusual energy to hail their goddess as they shouted "great is Diana of Ephesus" for almost two hours (Acts 19:34) and it was the intervention of the court clerk who put an abrupt end to the commotion they created. Unknown to them that there is no one great as our awesome God, for there is no other God beside Him (Isaiah 45:20b, 21b), no god or goddess is His match. Sincerely, they were defending their own pocket because if Paul should preach to these people and they accept the gospel, no one will patronize them and buy carved images from them, and definitely their means of livelihood/ sustenance will be affected. Men always want to have their way, yet, God hate all forms of idolatry. In a bid not to accept the God of heaven; they called the image that fell from heaven great. So many cultures in nations of the world are still deeply rooted in idolatry and this is one of the major reason why there is suffering in our world today.
Even the testimony of the queen mother attest to the fact that everything man is looking for through Satan can actually be gotten from God. She advised her son to consult Daniel to unravel the mystery that puzzled him. (Daniel 5:5-8). And being persuaded by her mother's testimony, he called Daniel in who resides the Spirit of God (not familiar spirit, witchcraft, soothsaying, demonic or magical powers). Concerning Daniel, God gave him special abilities that supersede anyone in Babylon. He possessed the Spirit of the Holy God, King Nebuchadnezzar even confirmed it (Daniel 4:7-9, 18) because the dream that astrologers, magicians and soothsayers cannot interprete, Daniel fully understands and easily interprete it. He was the only one in the kingdom that carries the Spirit of the Holy God (Daniel 4:11-12, 14). When there is possibility of getting the original why thronging for fake because wherever there is fake, there is always original. Now, Belshazzar problem requires Belteshazzar's intervention and interpretation. Fake spirits rule in Babylon but the true Spirit of God was found in Daniel because he belongs to God of the Hebrews (Daniel 2:21b-22, Amos 4:13b). And since there is always original whenever there is a counterfeit, it is henceforth advisable to get the original (Jeremiah 10:9, Psalm 86:8-10). Get the original and God is the original for all other are fake and this was Jeremiah's affirmation: "Inasmuch as there is none like you O LORD." So Seek Him, know Him, fear Him, love Him, worship and serve Him for this is the whole duty of man, and may you find peace, rest and joy as you do this!
