Times of Trouble
Jeremiah 31:15-16
Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not. Thus saith the LORD; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.
The voice is heard in Ramah of Rachel weeping for her scattered children. Yet they were not around for they were not hers. Look how God promises to set everyone straight. In this text he promises to bring back Ephraim to Israel once more. Others also will know him as God and think of this as home. Notice this is very close to or speaking of a time known as Jacob's trouble; how many of you know he had trouble all along. His problem began when he thought he could wrestle with God. His problem began when he thought he could trick his brother's birthright. His problem began when he thought he could wrestle two women and play favorites among them. But how many know that you can never out-trick, outwit, or even outsmart God. He will not be mocked for long. Trust him to set everything right. It will be upright and well anointed just as it was meant to be. For so has he willed it. Look with me at the conclusion to Rachel's story.
You might be saying to yourself as did Mary, how shall these things be. They are gone, they are not here. Tell me, how come these children back again to a woman who was not their mother. Yet by the very right of ownership itself she was. See God's promise of a reward in her work. There also is grace to be found. See how no comfort becomes the only one here. Notice there is no mention made of Leah, the ugly woman that opposed her. My guess is she had her own reward, even that of own herself. So that when the time came, she was not entered into God's book. But her stolen innocent children were. For they became important in God's sight. How many of you know that when you are in his sight, nothing else matters. Look now here they all come back again, gathered to their mommy out of all places as if by God's hand. It's not much here after all that has been taken. But still for the bitter it is about as good as it gets. Imagine the comfort of being able to say 'Leah, I put you down; you're nobody and you're nothing to them now.'
They might be grown. They might be in need of a big dog to stand guard to keep the enemy away. But imagine for them the comfort of knowing that for now the enemy is kept away. Not to have someone whispering always in your ear of who you should become and of whose you are. Deep down you know better. Deep down in your darkest hearts you should all know, whether Rachel, Leah, or child that God always wins. You might be just a child in his house. But trust me, Rachel is not crying for babies. She is crying for justice. Believe it or not, God will take care of Jacob who did her this way. No matter what, Leah will not threaten her again. For those babies and grown-ups left in need of some help, you are not left defenseless. He is there for you just as he is for those of you saying 'my names not Rachel or Leah, Jesus.' It is a spiritual thing just like not all Israel is Israel. If it fits, sit for God's sake. You do not see any modern day Ephraimites running around anywhere, do you. But still God will do it, because he knows who each of you are. Not only that he also knows your location spiritually and your house and your number by faith.