Recently, we have often heard the word ‘blunder’ cropping up on our social media feeds and television news channels. It is used to criticise certain policies of those in power or individuals who act in a manner contrary to the law. According to the Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia (Great Dictionary of the Indonesian Language), a blunder is a serious or embarrassing mistake caused by stupidity, carelessness or negligence. If that is the case, do we not often find ourselves caught up in blunders as well? Especially actions driven by our passions and our human arrogance.
This is what happened to the Kingdom of Judah in the early days of the prophet Jeremiah’s ministry. Judah was facing a crisis, whether due to the deterioration of domestic conditions in the economic, socio-political and spiritual spheres. Not to mention the threats from the powerful kingdoms surrounding Judah. Unfortunately, during this severe crisis, Judah sidelined God and His decrees. Idolatry grew ever stronger; moreover, the nation’s leaders actually sought assistance from foreign powers such as Assyria and Egypt. Yet both of these powers clearly looked down on Judah and sought only to exploit it.
Yet that was Judah’s grave mistake. It failed to cherish the status it had long held—that of the chosen nation, the people of God, and His beloved children. Instead of behaving as a “child”, Judah acted as a slave, submitting to powers other than God (vv. 14–15). What Judah did was not merely a diplomatic error but an act of rebellion against God. They no longer relied on Him as their sole helper.
Is it not the case that we often commit the very same blunders as Judah? We place our hope in other ‘powers’ outside God, whatever form they may take. God’s promise of faithfulness and the evidence of His actions throughout human history seem to be nothing more than a passing breeze to those who consider themselves greater than anything else. Only through genuine repentance can we return to a right relationship with Him. Stubbornness and clinging to our “mistakes” only serve to bring God’s justice to bear upon us. Now the choice lies with us all.
