THEY WILL NOT BE CHARMED

"For, behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which will not be charmed, and they shall bite you, saith the LORD." (Jeremiah 8:17)

JEREMIAH WAS GIVEN THE COMMISSION of foretelling the Babylonian captivity. In a way, it was a very difficult ministry, for he could offer no hope of avoiding that captivity. The Lord told him NOT to pray for the people or make intercession for them for, "I will not hear thee" (Jer 7:16). The Lord also said He would not hear the people (Jer 11:14; 14:12). Our text declares the Chaldeans would descend upon the people like a flood of serpents, or "vipers" (NKJV) and "adders" (NASB) that could "not be charmed." One version reads, "against which the wonder-worker has no power" (BBE). There would be no person or power that could turn this punishing horde away. Nothing would be able to avert or neutralize their destruction. According to the Divine purpose for which they were to be sent, and from the standpoint of men, they would be invincible. No organized effort could possibly have proved successful against Nebuchadnezzar! Every form of human resistance would be utterly powerless. Divine judgments can never be averted by human wisdom or power.

THERE ARE JUDGMENTS FROM GOD for which no human remedy exists. No physician could cure the leprosy of Gehazi or his seed, which came on him because of covetousness (2 Kgs 5:27). No doctor could cure Herod after he was stricken by the angel of the Lord (Acts 12:23). Any effort to resuscitate Ananias and Sapphira would have proved futile (Acts 5:5-10). When Elymas the sorcerer was blinded by Paul, it would have been vain for him to seek recovery at the hand of a physician (Acts 13:11). Divine judgments cannot be lifted by human wisdom.

THERE HAVE BEEN CASES when Divine judgments have been reversed – but not by men. Miriam was stricken with leprosy by God, and at the prayer of Moses, God took it away (Num 12:10-15). The Lord has revealed, "I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, My great army which I sent among you" (Joel 2:25). But no one else can accomplish such a restoration – not a counselor, psychologist, or recovery expert. In a day when human wisdom has been unduly exalted, it is the business of the church to make this known to the people. Those who insist on walking at a distance from God, yet claim identity with Him, will be judged by Him – and when they are, there will be no charming of the one ministering the chastisement. This is not the kind of teaching that can be conveniently systematized and packaged. It is, however something for each believer to ponder.

– Given O. Blakely