Destroying the Message: Part 1
Sabbath School
The Gift of Prophecy
Now Hear This!
When People Refuse to Listen to God's Word
Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 36:20–31
Jeremiah 36 records a powerful example of what happens when people refuse to listen to God's warnings. God had given Jeremiah a message of judgment concerning Judah because of the people's continued rebellion and disobedience. Jeremiah dictated the message to his scribe, Baruch, who wrote it on a scroll. Since Jeremiah was not permitted to enter the temple, Baruch read the words of the Lord publicly so the people could hear the warning and hopefully turn away from their wickedness.
When the scroll eventually reached King Jehoiakim, it was read to him while he sat in his winter house before a fire. As Jehudi read several columns of the scroll, the king responded in a shocking way. Instead of humbling himself and taking God's warning seriously, he took a knife, cut the scroll into pieces, and threw them into the fire until the entire scroll was burned. Even more disturbing, neither the king nor his servants showed any fear or remorse. They were completely unwilling to listen to what God was saying.
But burning the scroll did not destroy God's message. The Lord instructed Jeremiah to write another scroll containing the same words, along with additional warnings concerning the king. God also declared that Jehoiakim would face judgment because of his defiance and refusal to humble himself before the Lord. The king may have destroyed the physical scroll, but he could not destroy the authority of God's Word or prevent the fulfillment of what God had spoken.
There is an important lesson here for us today. We may not literally throw God's Word into a fire, but we can do something just as dangerous when we ignore, dismiss, or reject the parts of Scripture that challenge our behavior. It is easy to welcome Bible passages that make us feel comfortable while avoiding those that expose our pride, selfishness, or disobedience. But God's Word was never given simply to make us feel good. It was given to teach us, correct us, warn us, and lead us into a closer relationship with Him.
We must be careful never to become so attached to our own opinions or desires that we refuse to listen when God's Word corrects us. Jehoiakim had an opportunity to humble himself, but he chose defiance instead. Let us have a different spirit. When Scripture reveals something in our lives that needs to change, may we be willing to listen, repent, and follow God's leading. We cannot change the truth by rejecting it, but we can allow the truth to change us when we humbly receive it.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us Your Word as a guide, a source of truth, and a warning when we begin to wander from You. Forgive us for the times we have ignored Your counsel or resisted correction because it was uncomfortable. Give us humble hearts that are willing to listen, learn, and obey. Help us never to reject the truth simply because it challenges our desires or exposes our mistakes. May Your Word continue to shape our thoughts, guide our decisions, and draw us closer to Jesus each day. In His precious name, Amen.
