Contemplative Bible Reading

Jeremiah 9:15-16 (New Living Translation)

15 So now, this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: Look! I will feed them with bitterness and give them poison to drink. 16 I will scatter them around the world, in places they and their ancestors never heard of, and even there I will chase them with the sword until I have destroyed them completely.”

God is speaking to His people through the prophet Jeremiah. They have continued to disobey, and punishment is coming.

They will be scattered to places whose names they don’t even know. “Where are we?” will be the cry of despair. Can it become worse than that?

Back in the 2000s, Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast of Mississippi and Louisiana. Persons were rushed onto airplanes and flown to evacuation centers scattered about the country. Upon landing, many of the evacuated persons asked, “Where are we?” When told, many—who didn’t have much knowledge of US geography—asked, “Where is that?”

Ignorance, not knowing, is frightening. Not knowing where I am is terrifying. The more frightening aspect of not knowing where I am is not know how to return home. Home is the place of comfort and safety. I don’t know how or if I will ever be safe gain.

Truly a dreaded punishment. Let us obey the advice of the Creator. God does know what is best for me.