What can we learn about God's sovereignty from Jeremiah 36:26? The Setting: A King versus God’s Word – Jehoiakim has just slashed and burned Jeremiah’s scroll (Jeremiah 36:23). – Incensed, he orders his officials “to seize Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet. But the LORD had hidden them” (Jeremiah 36:26). – One verse, yet it shouts that human power is never the final authority. God’s Hidden Ones • Jehoiakim’s palace guard is ready, names are listed, the command is clear—“seize them.” • The very next sentence: “But the LORD had hidden them.” No detail on how, because the point is Who. • Protection is not chance; it flows from deliberate, personal sovereignty (Psalm 91:1; 2 Samuel 22:3). Lessons on Sovereignty from Jeremiah 36:26 • God overrules kings. Earthly authority stops where divine purpose begins (Proverbs 21:1). • His Word is indestructible. Scrolls may burn, but the message survives—and is rewritten (Jeremiah 36:28, 32; Isaiah 40:8). • Timing and location are in His hands. Baruch and Jeremiah are precisely where Jehoiakim cannot reach them (Acts 17:26). • Divine sovereignty works through ordinary means or extraordinary concealment—either way, the credit is His (Psalm 115:3). • Opposition often accelerates God’s plan. The burned scroll returns expanded, confirming that resistance only magnifies revelation (Romans 9:17; Philippians 1:12). Complementary Passages Confirming God’s Sovereignty – Psalm 2:1-4 — nations rage, the Lord laughs. – Daniel 4:35 — “He does as He pleases… no one can restrain His hand.” – Acts 12:1-11 — Herod imprisons Peter, but an angel walks him out. – Acts 4:27-28 — even the crucifixion occurred “according to Your purpose and will.” – Proverbs 19:21 — “Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the LORD’s purpose prevails.” Living in the Light of His Sovereignty • Rest—no threat escapes His notice. • Obey—speak truth boldly as Jeremiah did; God can “hide” you until your work is done. • Trust—when opposition rises, expect God’s Word to advance, not retreat. • Worship—the same hand that shields His prophets guides every detail of your life (Romans 8:28). |
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