Sometimes we have on blinders or aren’t processing information with a full picture of reality or proper perspective… then, I saw this verse today, “Do you pursue great things for yourself?”, and I thought, “I’m supposed to right?”

Well, not necessarily… I need to First, pursue God, pursue his will, pursue his purpose, pursue his Kingdom… Matthew 6:33 immediately comes to mind… but I get ahead of myself…

Back there in Jeremiah 45, just a very short chapter between other statements, pronouncements, regarding the wickedness of Judah, in the midst of a time of judgment that is coming for their failure to follow and worship the Lord. There are long chapters and declarations from God, but only five verses right here in 45.

In the previous chapter, it talks about their false worship of idols and buring incense (prayers) to “the Queen of Heaven” which was a false goddess, Ishtar or Ashtarte. It also corrects the husbands for ignoring this and failing to lead their families correctly.

Jeremiah 44:22 The Lord can no longer bear your evil deeds and the detestable acts you have committed.

Then, the Lord comes to Jeremiah’s scribe – Baruch. In verse 1 we see that Jeremiah, as was his practice, was dictating the Word of the Lord to Baruch. Imagine this, as Baruch is writing down, right to left, just whatever Jeremiah says. So, Jeremiah is speaking, Baruch is writing, This is what the Lord says… to Baruch 3 You have said, “woe to me, because the Lord has added misery to my pain! I am worn out with groanings and have found no rest.”

Jeremiah is saying this, v1 says, he is dictating it to Baruch… and it’s ABOUT Baruch…

I wonder if Baruch is thinking, while he writes… “is he talking to me, about me? No, must be about Judah…”

But Jeremiah is speaking from God about Baruch’s private nightly weeping and crying over all that is happening. Perhaps Baruch had been praying from Psalm 6:6 “I’m weary from my groaning; with my tears I dampen my bed and drench my couch every night.”

v4, This is what you are to say to HIM: ‘this is what the Lord says: “what I have built I am about to demolish and what I have planted I am about to uproot – the whole land.

“Wait, is God speaking to Me?” (Baruch)

Then v5 But as for you… “oh he is talking to me” uh-oh

Do you pursue great things for yourself? “Is this a loaded question? Is this a trick question? I’m supposed to right?”

Then the Lord says, through Jeremiah, TO Baruch – Stop Pursuing! – This word means “to discover, attempt to do, possess, demand, require, search, request“. The Lord says, “Stop that!”

We need to know when and what God is saying. What do you seek?

Remember then Jesus in the “Sermon on the Mount” Matthew 6:25+ he says, Don’t worry about your life… what you eat… what you will wear… Consider the birds of the sky… Observe the wildflowers of the field… God clothes the grass… don’t worry… your heavenly Father knows that you need them… BUT Seek FIRST the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things (the stuff we worry about) will be provided for you… therefore do not worry about tomorrow… tomorrow will worry about itself…

Back to Baruch – he was shedding tears, groaning, and it seems wanting to take things into his own hands… Pursuing Great Things for himself… and God says, Stop Pursuing…

Seeking to achieve great things is not wrong or bad, but it can be useless if you don’t know what God is doing, and where things are heading. God says, “I am about to bring disaster on humanity… but I will grant you your life, protected like ‘spoils of war’ wherever you go.”

I got a picture in my head just know of trying to fix and lay out the most beautiful meal, or encampment, right next to the seashore where waves are crashing and tide is coming in, it might look good, but in a minute, it’s going to be washed away…

We need to pursue God first, his kingdom, and do what he says without fear, but don’t be caught in needless efforts stacking up “great things” where God may be about to send / allow a storm to wipe it all away.

He was telling Baruch… things are about to get tough, so don’t waste your energy in the wrong things, but know I’ve got you in the midst of it all.