The LORD, who is the inheritance of Jacob’s descendants, is not like them.
He is the one who created everything.
And the people of Israel are those he claims as his own.
He is known as the LORD who rules over all.”
(Jeremiah 10:16)
As I read this verse, I found myself incredibly awestruck and humbled at the realization of who God is. In this one verse, God makes five claims about his person and character:
1. He is the Portion of Jacob
The study note in my Bible for this phrase says:
The phrase the portion of Jacob’s descendants, which is applied to God here, has its background in the division of the land where each tribe received a portion of the land of Palestine except the tribe of Levi whose “portion” was the LORD. As the other tribes lived off what their portion of the land provided, the tribe of Levi lived off what the LORD provided, i.e., the tithes and offerings dedicated to him. Hence to have the LORD as one’s portion is to have him provide for all one’s needs.
By using this title for himself, God is promising to provide for his people. I was fortunate enough to grow up in a home where I didn’t need to worry about where my next meal was going to come from or where I was going to live. I had the confidence that no matter what was going on in my life, my needs would be met; my father would provide for me. As children of God, we have the same assurance. He is Jehovah Jireh, The Lord Who Provides, and he has promised to provide all our needs (Phil. 4:19).
2. He is not like them.
This phrase is more powerful in light of what God has said about the false idols:
“They cannot talk. They must be carried because they cannot walk… they cannot hurt you. And they do not have any power to help you.” (10:5)
“They are the handiwork of carpenters and goldsmiths… They are all made by skillful workers.” (10:9)
“For the image he forges is merely a sham… There is no breath in any of those idols.” (10:14)
“They are worthless, mere objects to be mocked.” (10:15)
What does it mean if God is not like them? It means that he is the Living God (10:10), that he talks to his people (10:1), that he is the Creator, not the Created (10:12), and that he is worthy of the worship and obedience he has commanded from his people.
3. He is the one who created everything.
I think God is using a little bit of irony here for effect. In the first half of the chapter, he describes how the people created idols from trees and metal. In the second half of the chapter, he describes how he created the earth. It makes the worship of idols seem foolish. Why worship something you have created when you can worship the one who created you? And yet people today still want to worship a god created in their own image instead of the God who created us in his image. Even Christians fall into the trap of thinking God is like them instead of trying to be like God. The Lord is the one who created everything, and he is the one who is worthy of our worship.
4. The people of Israel are those he claims as his own.
After describing how Israel has created false idols, and how they are completely dependent upon him for provision and are unable to care for themselves, and reminding them how he is the omnipotent Creator, God makes the statement that he has claimed Israel as his own. As Christians, we have been adopted as children of God. He has claimed us as his own. The Creator, the Provider, the One whom we have forsaken, considers us his possession.
“The Spirit himself bears witness to our spirit that we are God’s children. And if children, then heirs (namely, heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ) — if indeed we suffer with him so we may also be glorified with him.” (Romans 8:16-17)
“But you, brothers and sisters, are children of the promise like Isaac.” (Galatians 4:28)
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9)
5. The LORD who rules over all.
This name of God is actually the LORD of armies, and it is a title used to show God’s strength. Here (and often in the prophets) it takes on additional meaning because of the judgment is he pronouncing on Israel.
“Listen! News is coming even now.The rumble of a great army is heard approaching from a land in the north…” (Jeremiah 10:22)
God is not only the Lord over the host of angels in heaven, he is the Lord over the armies of the earth. God has left no room for doubt in the minds of Israel that he is behind the invaders. The Babylonian army was used by God to judge his people for their disobedience. We serve a God of love and mercy and grace, but let us never forget that we also serve a God of justice and righteousness and judgment.
So what should our response to this passage be? I think it should be an attitude of awe and humility at who God is, and a desire for God to refine us into a people he is not ashamed to call his own. Jeremiah understood this and his response is very appropriate: “So correct me, LORD, but please be gentle.” (10:24, NLT).