How does Jeremiah 36:26 connect with other instances of divine protection in Scripture? Setting the Scene: Jeremiah 36:26 “Yet the king commanded Jerahmeel the king’s son, Seraiah son of Azriel, and Shelemiah son of Abdeel to seize Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet. But the LORD had hidden them.” Immediate Lessons From the Verse • Earthly power (King Jehoiakim) tries to silence God’s message. • God intervenes directly—“the LORD had hidden them.” • Protection ensures the continued delivery of God’s word (Jeremiah 36:27-32). Patterns of Protection in the Law (Torah) • Exodus 2:1-10 – Moses hidden from Pharaoh’s decree; preserved to lead Israel. • Exodus 14:19-20 – The angel of God and the pillar of cloud stand between Israel and Egypt. • Numbers 16:46-48 – Aaron stands with incense; plague stops at God’s command. Patterns of Protection in the Prophets • 1 Kings 17:2-6 – Elijah fed by ravens and hidden by the brook Cherith. • 2 Kings 6:15-17 – Elisha’s servant sees heavenly armies guarding them. • Daniel 3:23-27 – Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego kept unharmed in the furnace. • Daniel 6:19-23 – Daniel preserved in the lions’ den. • Jeremiah 38:6-13 – Ebed-melech rescues Jeremiah from the cistern; God later promises, “I will deliver you” (Jeremiah 39:17-18). Patterns of Protection in the Writings • Psalm 34:7 – “The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and he delivers them.” • Psalm 91:1-4 – Sheltering “under the shadow of the Almighty.” • Esther 4-8 – Esther and Mordecai shielded; Israel delivered from Haman’s plot. New Testament Echoes • Matthew 2:13-15 – Jesus taken to Egypt; Herod’s massacre thwarted. • Luke 4:28-30 – Crowd seeks to throw Jesus off a cliff; He “passed through the midst of them.” • Acts 5:17-20 – Apostles freed by an angel from prison; told to keep preaching. • Acts 12:6-11 – Peter delivered from Herod’s prison by an angel. • Acts 27:22-24 – Paul promised safety amid shipwreck; all 276 survive. Theology Woven Through the Parallels • God’s sovereignty overrides human opposition (Proverbs 21:30). • Protection is purposeful—preserving the messenger so the message reaches its audience (Isaiah 55:11). • Methods vary: hiding (Jeremiah 36), angelic intervention (Acts 12), natural means (basket through a window, 2 Corinthians 11:33), or miraculous deliverance (Daniel 3). • The pattern affirms God’s covenant faithfulness; He guards those tasked with advancing His redemptive plan. Personal Implications for Believers • Confidence: The same God who guarded Jeremiah guards all who faithfully proclaim His word (Hebrews 13:6). • Courage: Opposition cannot overturn God’s purposes; speak truth without fear (Acts 4:29-31). • Perspective: Protection may come through concealment, unlikely allies, or overt miracles—trust His chosen means (Psalm 121:7-8). |
    |