Jeremiah 5:22–23: The Waves of Pride

Fady Andraws
Jul 29, 2017 · 6 min read

Very recently I read a passage in Jeremiah that dealt with an analogy that taught me quite a bit about dealing with my pride. I’m currently on a bus home from Sudbury where God granted me the privilege of serving His people of the north. I saw families, whom once a month drive roughly 4 hours from Timmins and Chapleau simply to pray a liturgy. It gave me courage, of course, on my walk with God. But more importantly, it gave me perspective. It showed me how important my time with Christ is. My time with God, and my communion with God through the Eucharist, is not something to take for granted. And yet sometimes I approach God with such an execrable pride. I say, but God why is this situation so? Why was I put here at this time? Why was I given this tribulation? Why is this a sin? Why does it anger you? And God in response, uses the analogy of a tempest sea to explain our lack of humble obedience several times in the Bible. This pride may creep up either when we refuse to admit our sin, such as in the time of Jeremiah, or when we refuse to admit that God knows better, during a time of tribulation. Let’s look at the response God gives us with both.


Pride during a time of apostasy

In previous blogs, we’ve discussed at length, the lack of repentance shown by Israel during the time of Jeremiah. Israel was on the verge of Judgement at the hands of the Babylonians, and yet, they continued to live a two faced lifestyle, worshiping in God’s temple, while offering sacrifices to idols at the same time. In response to this apostasy, Jeremiah uses the illustration of the ocean and the sand. The water pounds against the sea. It rages. And yet, there is something incredibly simple about the band of sand, that causes the sea to obediently stop each time they make contact. Look at how the sea stops at the sand every time, and yet my people do not know their limits, says God. The sand, a malleable substance, which is no match for the sea, still marks a clear border to control it. Why can’t we more humbly obey like the sea?

Do you not fear me? says the Lord; Do you not tremble before me? I placed the sand as a boundary for the sea, a perpetual barrier that it cannot pass; though the waves toss, they cannot prevail, though they roar, they cannot pass over it. But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; they have turned aside and gone away. — Jeremiah 5:22–23

God compares the obedience of the strong and mighty sea, with the rebellious character of his own people, despite being significantly less powerful. The sea, never breaks its boundary; it never leaps from its channel; it obeys God in all its movements. But man, poor puny man, the little creature whom God could crush as the moth, will not be obedient. God gives another example of the obedience of animals in chapter 8 of Jeremiah.

I have given heed and listened, but they do not speak honestly; no one repents of wickedness, saying, “What have I done!” All of them turn to their own course, like a horse plunging headlong into battle. Even the stork in the heavens knows its times; and the turtledove, swallow, and crane observe the time of their coming; but my people do not know the ordinance of the Lord. — Jeremiah 8:7–8

Look at these migratory birds that God lists, and set the wisdom of their instinct in contrast with the folly of man. Migratory birds always seem to know when to migrate, where to go, and the way. Most importantly however, their instinct tells them that this migration is necessary for their survival. They need to go on this path. Yet humans, in the face on sin, refuse to repent from the wickedness, instead choosing to follow their own path. God has given us nature, so that when we stray far from Him, we take advice from nature, and realize our boundaries. We must realize that God has given us an essential path of repentance.

Pride during tribulation

A similar source of pride can occur when we think we know what’s best for us. In times of tribulation, we may be angry at God and challenge His authority. There is no story in the bible that puts on display more harsh tribulation than that of Job. He looses 7 sons and 3 daughters. He loses his livestock: 7000 sheep, 3000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen and 500 female donkeys. He was stricken with boils, and his wife left him, telling him to curse God and die. His three friends were convinced of his own guilt in the situation and pleaded with Job to repent. In all ways, Job had hit rock bottom, and his faith wavered, as he turned to God frustrated and alone. And then God answers Job in chapter 38. After all his friends have finished offering terrible comfort, and Job continues to affirm his own righteousness, God swoops in to show Job his true ignorance.

Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements — surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone when the morning stars sang together and all the heavenly beings shouted for joy? Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb? — when I made the clouds its garment, and thick darkness its swaddling band, and prescribed bounds for it, and set bars and doors, and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stopped’? — Job 38:4–11

What a mouth-shutting question: Where were you, Job, when I laid the foundation of the earth? God laid all the foundation of the world, and yet we have the audacity to question our tribulations? Pay particular attention to verse 11, where he animates the waves with pride. The waves crash, and they may turn over a rock or undermine a cliff. They may cause erosion or little effects on banks and other land formations. But what is there effect over thousands of years? Every time I’ve visited Niagara Falls, it still seems to be in the same place, glorifying God with it’s thunderous might. There are islands around the world that have not been affected. The little islet of Psyttaleia still blocks the eastern end of the straits of Salamis. Look at God’s perfect creation.

Even the disciples needed to learn the same lesson as Job. The disciples after a long day of service, took Christ into a boat to leave the crowds behind. While they were crossing, a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat. The boat was being filled, and it must have been an incredible storm to terrify some lifetime fishermen who were aboard with Christ. Christ was in the stern sleeping, and not knowing what to do in the face of tribulation, they woke him up:

But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” — Mark 4:38–41

It is our pride that makes us doubt God in the face of adversity. We think that God does not care, or that we know better. We think that God doesn’t plan for us. But from the moment He created the universe, He has thought of us. To the extent that He instilled wisdom within nature. Listen to it. Respect the boundaries God has set before you, and in humility, obey His commandments, for it is He who established the whole universe. Just as the waves humbly respect the band of sand laid out by the Creator, let us obey the will of God.

Fady Andraws

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Religion | Culture | Romans 7:15

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