Jeremiah 49 A Message of Hope

God in His everlasting mercy reveals His plans for Ammon and Edom. Their nations will be ravaged until there is nothing left except for the widows and orphans. How hard it is to read these chapters when you realize that death and destruction are allowed by God which is totally contrary to what the world says. They will be destroyed and their destiny is assured. God has demonstrated mercy long enough. People today say, God is love and He loves and no matter who you are or where you live or what you have done, your destiny is assured as heaven. These chapters in Jeremiah contradict that philosophy in spades! Yet, listen to the words of Jeremiah to those who are left behind as the enemies scourge the lands.

God is a God of hope for the most precious of people, the widows and orphans. James reminds us what true religion is, to visit the widows and orphans in their distress. Here in Jeremiah we read: “Leave your fatherless children, I will preserve them alive: Here was a glimmer of hope for Edom, even with the devastation to come. God invited the remnant remaining – made up of fatherless children and widows – to trust in Him.”

How hard it is to trust when you experience such devastation but God is the God of hope both then and now. If you are a widow or an orphan, trust God to preserve you for His work.