Oh, that I had in the desert a lodging place for travelers, so that I might leave my people and go away from them; for they are all adulterers, a crowd of unfaithful people. – Jeremiah 9:2

Today's Scripture Reading (June 30, 2026): Jeremiah 9

He wanted to meet for coffee. Unfortunately, my week was packed, so I couldn't schedule him in. So, I suggested we could have lunch next week, which looked at least a little more open. He nodded, but there was a sadness in his countenance. Next week would do, but then he added another comment: "If we are still here." I understood what he meant. We have had that conversation a few times before. Politically, the world is in a tight situation. Too many earth-devastating weapons existed, and too many itchy fingers seemed to be on the trigger. Welcome to life in the 21^st century. I am not quite as pessimistic as my friend, but I do understand his angst. We seem to be in a world that has evolved from one that protected the weak nations to one that seeks to exploit them. After all, if you can't act like a bully, what is the use of being strong?

My mind keeps going back to Jesus's words to his disciples late in his ministry on the earth. "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40). And Jesus didn't just state this idea once; he flipped it over and stated the same idea, but this time in the negative. "Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me" (Matthew 25:45). I believe this is what we are to do as individuals, and also as nations. There should be no role for the bully in this world, regardless of whether the bully is an angry man, a self-entitled woman, or an out-of-control nation.

My friend has often wished that there were somewhere he could run to with his family, where he would be safe from what he suspects is the coming storm. But if the worst happens, there really is no place to hide. Well, almost no place to hide. We believe that God is still on the throne, and we can still hide in Him.

I am not sure if it helps us today, but apparently Jeremiah felt the same way. He looked at his nation and saw a government that was out of control. And the Prophet realizes that a storm is coming. Jeremiah looked at his world and knew that the stage was being set for the Babylonians to come and destroy Judah. All Jeremiah wants to do is go and find a place in the desert where he would be safe. Jeremiah understands that the nation's leaders' disobedience has made this possible. If the people were trying to follow God, Jeremiah would have wanted to stand with him as Isaiah had during the Assyrian crisis. But these people were in full rebellion in support of the leadership, making Jeremiah wish there was someplace to which he could run.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 10