“Every man is stupid and without knowledge” (Jeremiah 10:14), but man thinks he is the master of all kinds of knowledge! He is, however, without knowledge of the true God, the Creator, “who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens” (verse 12).

With powerful telescopes, satellites and space probes, scientists have learnt how much the universe has been stretched out. In awe God’s creative powers, Jeremiah reflects on his own situation and writes, “I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps. Correct me, O LORD, but in justice; not in your anger, lest you bring me to nothing” (verses 23,24).

Surely Jeremiah’s attitude should also be ours, and should be evident every day in our thoughts and prayers, increasing our faith to be able to cope with the situation when the Almighty intervenes in this world. Ponder why God told Jeremiah not to pray for the people. “As for you, do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede for I will not hear you” (9:16). God repeats this in Jeremiah 11:14, “Therefore do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer on their behalf, for I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their trouble”.

Will the world get into such a desperate situation? It is sometimes said you will never find an atheist on a life raft. Will the whole world be in a life raft situation? Most people are convinced that there is no God so we can imagine much prayer will be offered when the world is at its wit’s end. Will our faith help us to rise above this situation?

In Luke 21:26 we read “… people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken”. It is how we build up our faith now that will ensure we will not be shaken. In the areas of our weaknesses let us pray, “Correct me O LORD, but in justice: not in your anger”.