What does "turn from doing good" reveal about God's conditional promises? Verse in Focus Jeremiah 18:10: “and if that nation does evil in My sight by not listening to My voice, then I will relent of the good with which I had promised to bless it.” Covenant Background • God’s covenants with people and nations always join privilege to responsibility (Deuteronomy 28). • Blessing is promised to obedience; judgment is promised to rebellion. • The Potter-and-clay setting in Jeremiah 18 shows God’s absolute right to reshape outcomes when the clay (people) changes its nature. The Warning Embedded • “Turn from doing good” is more than a slip; it is a deliberate pivot away from God’s voice. • The verb “relent” underscores that promised blessing is not automatic or irrevocable—God responds to current obedience (see Ezekiel 33:18; Hosea 10:12). • Past faithfulness does not purchase future exemptions. Notice how earlier assurances to Judah did not shield it once it embraced idolatry (Jeremiah 7:4-15). What Turning from Doing Good Says About God’s Promises • Conditional, not capricious – God does not revoke blessing on a whim; He does so when conditions change (Numbers 23:19; 2 Chronicles 15:2). • Just and impartial – The same standard applies to “nation” or individual (Romans 2:6-11). • Present-tense obedience matters – “The one who does righteousness is righteous” (1 John 3:7). Yesterday’s obedience cannot cancel today’s rebellion. • Mercy remains wide open – If evil nations can reverse judgment by repentance (Jeremiah 18:8; Jonah 3:10), then wandering believers can recover blessing by the same pathway (2 Chronicles 7:14; 1 John 1:9). Personal Application • Keep short accounts—daily confession and realignment maintain the flow of promised favor. • Refuse resting on spiritual nostalgia—ask, “Am I hearing and obeying His voice today?” • Remember Galatians 6:7-9: sowing and reaping never pause; perseverance in “doing good” secures the harvest. • Take courage—God’s conditional promises are an invitation, not a threat. Consistent faithfulness keeps the good He delights to give within immediate reach. |
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