February 23, 2025

God told Jeremiah to stop praying for the people, he didn’t give up and poured out his heart on their behalf. Even though their sin was great, he still hoped that God would relent and turn His wrath away from them. The people were no longer sending their servants for water; they may have had to let them go because they couldn’t maintain their health because of the famine and drought. Now, they are teaching their children to fetch the water, but there was none to get. The ground was so dry that the plowmen were ashamed because plows wouldn’t penetrate that soil. 

This story almost reads like a parable. Much like trying to share the gospel with an atheist or someone whose mind has been twisted by the enemy, the ground was dry and unable to receive the truth and understand it. Hard soil will reject water given it and not soak in. If you’ve ever tried wetting soil that had been dry for a long time, you understand what happens; it stays right on the surface unless you keep pouring water over it, and it can take a while for it to start soaking in. Much like Jeremiah praying for the people who seem to be a lost cause with their idol worship, don’t give up on the family and friends you are trying to get to trust in Jesus; keep pouring on the water, and it may eventually soak in. 

Thus saith the LORD unto this people, Thus have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet, therefore the LORD doth not accept them; he will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins. Then said the LORD unto me, Pray not for this people for their good. Jeremiah 14:10-11