Known Day 2 Abba: Digging Deeper
Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!
Jeremiah 31:16-20
18 I have surely heard Ephraim moaning, “You disciplined me, and I have been disciplined like an untrained calf. 18 Take me back, so that I can return, for you, Lord, are my God. 19 After my return, I felt regret; after I was instructed, I struck my thigh in grief. I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth.” 20 Isn’t Ephraim a precious son to me, a delightful child? Whenever I speak against him, I certainly still think about him. Therefore, my inner being yearns for him; I will truly have compassion on him. This is the Lord’s declaration.
The Original Intent
1) Who is Ephraim and why is he grieving? (verses 18 and 20)
Ephraim was the younger of Joseph’s sons born to him in Egypt (Genesis 41:50-52) and was eventually established as the powerful Northern tribe of Israelites referred to as “Israel” or “Ephraim” while the Southern kingdom was known as “Judah”. (Genesis 48:3-23)
Although Ephraim and Manasseh were technically Jacob’s grandsons by Joseph when Jacob was near death he blessed them as his own sons, and God honored his blessing. In this prophecy, God was not referring specifically to Joseph’s son, Ephraim, but instead to the powerful Northern tribe by the same name, who had strayed from the Lord’s way and protection. This is reminiscent of how God referred to the enslaved people of Israel as His son in Exodus 4:22-23.
God instructed Moses to tell Pharaoh that Israel was His “first-born son,” and to release him in order to serve God. The name Israel was used by God to personify the Israelites who were freed from Egypt and wandered the desert. In a similar fashion, God revealed through Jeremiah that the tribe of Ephraim recognized their sin and were repentant toward the LORD, seeking His forgiveness and acceptance.
They mourned their sinful state, acknowledging the right discipline they received and recognized they were at the mercy of God. Further, God acknowledged and reiterated His steadfast love for His chosen people, even though they had sinned, and claimed them again as His own beloved children.
When read with correct historical, biblical, and cultural context, the message Jeremiah delivered in verses 16-20 about the tribe of Ephraim’s repentance and God’s response brings to mind the parable of the prodigal son Jesus told in Luke 15:11-32.
The Everyday Application
1) Who is Ephraim and why is he grieving? (verses 18 and 20)
I’ll never forget when I accidentally punched my little sister in the eye. A boy had taught me how to do a “fake punch” after church, and I was eager to show off my new skill. I never intended to harm her at all, but when I reeled back to show her my new trick, I completely misjudged the moment I needed to stop swinging to carry out the “fake” part of the punch.
The sound of my fist colliding with her face was nauseating, and trumped only by her shrill, heartbreaking wail. My regret and remorse were instantaneous. I hadn’t meant to hurt her at all, but there was nothing I could do to take back my actions; the damage was done. I felt awful, and from the way I cried, you might have thought I was the one who was punched.
My sister’s injury may have been the result of an accident, but I knew I had been playing in a careless way. The regret and remorse I felt were heavy, and I fervently wished I could take back what I had done. This is how the wayward tribe of Ephraim is described with repentant hearts, weeping and grieving over their sin.
We experience feelings of regret and remorse when we turn from our sin and turn instead toward our Heavenly Father. In His kindness, He does not place condemnation on us when we experience those convicting feelings, but instead forgives us and invites us immediately to walk rightly with Him again. (Romans 8:1-4, 1 John 1:8-10, Ephesians 1:3-10)
Scripture shows us that we all sin. (Romans 3:23-24, Romans 3:9-18, 1 John 1:5-10) No human is exempt, not even one. When we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us and bring us back into right relationship with Him through the blood of Jesus Christ. (Isaiah 1:16-19, Colossians 1:13-14, Matthew 26:26-29)
The Original Intent
2) Verse 20 describes Ephraim as a precious son and delightful child while verse 19 describes the disgrace of his youth. Do these verses contradict each other?
The blessing of Ephraim as one of Jacob’s own sons transferred to the tribe that grew from his lineage; Ephraim was a child of promise. God’s choice of words in verses 19 and 20 show His love and care for the tribe of Ephraim as His own child. In all of this passage, His words about Ephraim are only ever loving, forgiving and kind.
The verses leading up to verses 19 and 20 outline the tribe of Ephraim’s own words of regret, remorse, and shame, but the Lord’s response is to remind the listener of the tribe’s special place in His heart. He even mentions that when He disciplines or speaks against them, it is for their good; His heart is still soft toward them.
The complete other-ness of God’s nature is brilliantly displayed in the truth we see revealed in this exchange: God is holy and will not tolerate sin. (Psalm 97:2-5, Leviticus 11:44-45, Isaiah 6:1-4)
God also loves. (1 John 4:16-19, Zephaniah 3:17, Ephesians 2:4-5) In His love, He disciplines His children. (Hebrews 12:3-13, Revelation 3:17-20, Job 5:17-18)
In this passage, we see Ephraim responded rightly to the conviction of sin and repented toward the LORD, and the LORD affirmed He would be true to His character. He would forgive and restore, bringing the tribe of Ephraim back into right standing with Him, proving His mercy and compassion yet again.
The Everyday Application
2) Verse 20 describes Ephraim as a precious son and delightful child while verse 19 describes the disgrace of his youth. Do these verses contradict each other?
When we read the Bible, it can be easy to get caught up in the language or immediate details and assume we understand the gist of it, while losing sight of what the text actually says. We must constantly remind ourselves that as we read, we should be asking a series of questions, like: Where does this fit into the overarching narrative of the Bible? Who is writing? Who was this person writing to? What would the original hearers or readers have plainly understood? What does this passage say about God? How does this point toward Jesus? What does it say about mankind?
During my first pass of this passage, it seemed that God was conflicted about Ephraim, describing the tribe as both an untrained calf and disgrace, while also espousing fatherly love for them. However, when I slowed down to dig in deeper, I realized my original take was way off base.
The narrative we see in this passage is instead a beautiful picture of the Lord encouraging His people. We’ve all experienced the shame, regret, and remorse that flood us when the Holy Spirit convicts us of a particularly protected, hidden sin.
Just like Ephraim, I’ve cried out to the Lord. “Abba, thank you. Your discipline led me to repentance, and I’m thankful…but also why is this still an issue with me? I just can’t seem to get _______ right. I don’t deserve your mercy or grace, but Lord, help me. I want to do what You desire.”
Just like with Ephraim, Abba’s response to His repentant child is immediately forgiving, fatherly, and true to His heart character!
The Original Intent
3) Why did the LORD use the specific language about His “inner being” yearning for Ephraim? (verse 20)
The language God used in His communication to Jeremiah reveals clear proof of God’s affection for and desire for relationship with His people. He has always loved and wanted His Creation to respond to Him rightly, and to choose Him over love of Self.
The emotions evident in His words here are compelling evidence of His father-heart, portrayed later toward His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and all those who would repent of their sin and put their trust in Him. (Matthew 3:13-17, John 3:14-21, Romans 8:12-17)
The God of the Old Testament IS the same God of the New Testament; He is unchanging. (Malachi 3:5-6, Psalm 102:23-27, Hebrews 13:5-8)
Over and over throughout history, God communicated the depths of His holy, steadfast love for His people through word pictures reminiscent of the deepest human relationships. He spoke in terms of father and child, evoking the picture of deep, protecting, and guiding love. (Jeremiah 31:20, Proverbs 3:11-12, Exodus 4:21-23)
He spoke in terms of bridegroom and bride, stirring thoughts of new love, deep affection, desire, and eagerness. (Isaiah 62:4-5, Ezekiel 16:8-14, Luke 5:33-35)
He spoke in terms of husband and wife, drawing out images of dedicated devotion, commitment, and covenant. (Isaiah 54:4-7, Hosea 2:2-7, Ephesians 5:25-33)
Throughout all of Scripture, from the first Creation-weighted words, until the final pages promising the eventual guaranteed return and revelation of the person of Jesus Christ, God consistently conveys His love for and desire for relationship with His people.
The Everyday Application
3) Why did the LORD use the specific language about His “inner being” yearning for Ephraim? (verse 20)
Relationships are often challenging to describe, mostly because there are just so many different types of relationships. We are all born into certain relationships; from our very beginning we are someone’s daughter or son, grandchild, niece or nephew, sibling, cousin, etc.
These relationships exist because of biology, or legal relationship as appointed by law. Some relationships exist due to proximity, such as neighbors or coworkers. There are also those relationships we seek out and choose. Regardless of the descriptor or title of a given relationship, the gamut of intimacy is vastly different from one relationship to the next.
We may have a dear aunt we love and care for, but we only spend six hours a year in the same amount of space. At the same time, we may have a friend we’ve only known for a few months, but we spend over 15 hours together each week, talking about faith, personal struggles and other deep topics.
Scripture leaves nothing to the imagination: God desires a deep, intimate relationship with us. He knows us, and He knows what we are like.
He knows that when we sin and repent, we may be prone to despair and grieve, but that doesn’t stop Him from immediately restoring us to walk with Him.
He loves us with a perfect, Fatherly love, and He desires people who will choose Him, and choose to be in deep relationship with Him in return!
Can We Pray With You?
Prayer is central to our ministry as believers in Jesus as we carry eachother’s burdens and intercede for one another. Our team is honored to share the work of praying alongside you!
This Week's Lock Screen
Authentically living out a life of worship to the God who rescued us from darkness requires accountability and intentionality. Join a GT POD and take the next step in your faith journey!
