How can we apply the lessons of Jeremiah 46:23 to modern-day national leaders? The Verse “They have cut down her forest,” declares the LORD, “for it is dense; in number they are more than locusts, and they cannot be counted.” (Jeremiah 46:23) Backdrop and Big Idea • Jeremiah foretells Babylon’s invasion of Egypt. • The “forest” pictures Egypt’s power, wealth, and self-confidence. • The invading army—“more than locusts”—shows how swiftly God can bring down any nation that trusts in its own strength. Timeless Principles National Leaders Must Grasp • God alone grants or removes national security (Daniel 2:21). • Military size, economic depth, and alliances cannot shield a nation from divine judgment (Psalm 33:16-19). • Unchecked pride invites swift, overwhelming correction (Proverbs 16:18). • When God’s purposes move, resistance is futile; His agents can be “more than locusts,” unstoppable (Isaiah 40:15). • Every ruler governs under heaven’s scrutiny (Romans 13:1). Warnings Modern Leaders Should Heed • Do not equate dense bureaucracies or vast resources with invincibility. • Avoid policies that ignore or suppress God’s moral law; they rot a nation’s core (Proverbs 14:34). • Reject propaganda that portrays the state as ultimate savior; that role belongs to God alone. • Recognize that public approval can evaporate overnight when God allows upheaval. • Prepare for accountability—both temporal and eternal—for every decision made in office. Positive Actions for Today • Lead with humility: publicly acknowledge dependence on God for wisdom and protection. • Pursue justice and righteousness in legislation and enforcement (Micah 6:8). • Safeguard truth—promote honest media, transparent budgets, and integrity in diplomacy. • Champion the vulnerable: unborn, aged, poor, and displaced; God often measures nations by their treatment of the weak (Jeremiah 22:3). • Model repentance: when policies fail or sin is exposed, own it, change course, and seek divine mercy (2 Chronicles 7:14). What It Looks Like on the Ground • Cabinet meetings open with Scripture and prayer, confessing dependence on the Lord. • Budgets allocate meaningful funds for ethical reforms rather than vanity projects. • Military strength is maintained, yet leaders publicly state that victory ultimately rests with God, not weaponry. • National addresses include calls for moral renewal, not merely economic boasts. • International negotiations reflect truthfulness over expediency, trusting God with outcomes. Bottom Line Jeremiah 46:23 shouts across the centuries: nations that trust in their own “dense forest” soon face forces “more than locusts.” Wise leaders humble themselves, align with God’s standards, and steward power in full awareness that the Lord who raised them up can just as easily bring them down. |
    |