Can't understand God's methods? Read this ... Jeremiah 47-52

We sometimes think that God has it wrong and we have it right.  We see bad things happen and we wonder where God is.  We see evil prevail and we wonder out loud to God, "Why?"   In this section of Jeremiah we see the message turn to the punishment of those evil in the world.  God had, originally, used the nation of Babylon to punish His chosen people Israel (see Haggai for that complex dilemma).   Now, God is going to punish the people He used to punish.   We will never understand that if we don't understand the character and power of God.   In Jeremiah 51:15-18 we see Jeremiah giving the basis for God's actions.  How can God use an evil nation to punish His chosen people and then turn right around and punish that evil nation for their evilness?   The answer is simple: Because He can.   God didn't make the nations (or people) evil.  But, God will use that evilness to HIs glory.   When Job was to be attacked  by Satan, Satan used evil men to crush Job's material goods and family.   God allowed it.   God does not create the evil.  But, He does use the evil to bring ultimate praise to Himself.   If we want to understand God's actions and His movements with our world, Jeremiah is telling us we have to believe in the sovereign will of God and HIs ultimate loving spirit.   You may not understand what God is doing, and you may not like it.  But, everything God does is connected to His ultimate power that is govern by His ultimate love.