12 Righteous are You, O Lord, that I would plead my case with You;
Indeed I would discuss matters of justice with You:
Why has the way of the wicked prospered?
Why are all those who deal in treachery at ease?
2 You have planted them, they have also taken root;
They grow, they have even produced fruit.
You are near [a]to their lips
But far from their [b]mind.
3 But You know me, O Lord;
You see me;
And You examine my heart’s attitude toward You.
Drag them off like sheep for the slaughter
And [c]set them apart for a day of carnage!
4 How long is the land to mourn
And the vegetation of the countryside to wither?
For the wickedness of those who dwell in it,
Animals and birds have been snatched away,
Because men have said, “He will not see our latter ending.”5 “If you have run with footmen and they have tired you out,
Then how can you compete with horses?
If you fall down in a land of peace,
How will you do in the [d]thicket of the Jordan?
6 “For even your brothers and the household of your father,
Even they have dealt treacherously with you,
Even they have cried aloud after you.
Do not believe them, although they may say nice things to you.”
In the beginning verses Jeremiah wrestles with the age-old question, “Why has the way of the wicked prospered?” Then in v. 5, God answers Jeremiah, but not with any answer we’d expect, “If you have run with footmen and they have tired you out, then how can you compete with horses?” It’s as if God is saying, “If you can’t handle that simple injustice, how will you respond with the really tough issues?”
To be fair, I don’t know that there’s an easy answer to his questions. Yet we can see in Jeremiah’s own writings that the judgment was coming, though Jeremiah would have to endure more hardship. So it seems that God is preparing Jeremiah, as not only the men of his city (see chapter 11), but his own brothers were dealing treacherously with him.
On both sides then, for the wicked and the righteous, God sends what is needed to test us and show our hearts. For the wicked, prosperity made them show their true colors. I’ve heard it said that money isn’t evil, but it’s a magnifier of your values. That is, if your heart is craven, more money will make it more evident.
On the other hand, God sends good people hard questions and tough situations to prove their hearts also. But it isn’t just for testing, it is often preparation for His plan. God knows what lies ahead, and it is likely that what we endure today will mold and shape our hearts to be ready for what comes next. It will either break us, or strengthen our faith and resolve in Him.
Ultimately, there aren’t always answers to our hard questions, at least not ones that we understand or enjoy. But God doesn’t leave us to deal with it all alone. As Jeremiah remained faithful to God, he was forewarned that those around him were plotting against him. God took care of Jeremiah, and He can and will make sure we have everything we need–including faith in His unchanging love and grace.