Jeremiah found out that people from the city of Anathoth were planning to kill him (11:18,21) to stop him from prophesying about God's judgment. Before God revealed the plot to him, Jeremiah was totally unaware (19), but he prayed and committed his cause to the Lord (20). Then God promised to punish those who were plotting against Jeremiah so that he would not need to take his own revenge.

Still, Jeremiah was discouraged, and he poured out his questions to God. He wondered why the wicked seemed to be successful and live at ease (12:1). What was worse, the wicked were hypocrites, speaking holy-sounding words while their hearts were far from God (2). But God reminded Jeremiah that the life of faith is like running a race (5) and that he needed perseverance to continue his mission - even when his own family members turned against him (6). Then God prophesied his judgment again through Jeremiah, but this time, God also promised his redemption (15).

When we grow weary of standing against all the evil in the world and we don't know who is on God's side, we can take assurance in God's protection and hear his challenge to keep running.


Application: Father, help me to not be fearful of what people can do, but to keep doing the work you gave me with a pure heart. Give me strength to keep running the race of faith.
One Word: Keep running the race.