Jacob’s
Trouble: What Is It?
What did Jeremiah mean by the time of Jacob’s trouble? How does
this unequaled time of trouble for Israel’s descendants relate to the
Great Tribulation?
Under the
inspiration of God, the ancient prophet Jeremiah spoke of “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7).
This prophecy of
unprecedented difficulty for Jacob’s descendants will be fulfilled just before
the return of Jesus Christ. The reason for
The reason for punishment
Recognizing the
ancient Israelites’ hostility toward Him and His commands, God told Moses: “Behold, you will rest with your fathers;
and this people will rise and play the harlot with the gods of the foreigners
of the land, where they go to be among them, and they will forsake Me and break
My covenant which I have made with them. Then My anger shall be aroused against
them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide My face from them,
and they shall be devoured. And many evils and troubles shall befall them, so
that they will say in that day, ‘Have not these evils come upon us because our
God is not among us?’ And I will surely hide My face in that day because of all
the evil which they have done, in that they have turned to other gods”
(Deuteronomy 31:16-18).
Repeating what God
had revealed to him, Moses told the people: “For
I know that after my death you will become utterly corrupt, and turn aside from
the way which I have commanded you. And evil will befall you in the latter
days, because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to
anger through the work of your hands” (verse 29).
Multiple punishments
God punished Israel
in the eighth century B.C. when its citizens were taken captive by the
Assyrians. Judah was punished in the sixth century B.C. at the hands of
Nebuchadnezzar and the nation of Babylon.
Disobedience to
God’s commandments will once again bring about the downfall of the descendants
of the ancient Israelites prior to Christ’s return to earth to establish the
Kingdom of God.
While all the
nations of Israel will experience the tribulation of “Jacob’s trouble,” Genesis 48:16 reveals that Jacob
explicitly placed his name on Ephraim and Manasseh. Hence their descendants
will bear the brunt of this difficult time.
Daniel spoke of
this latter fulfillment, saying, “At that
time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of
your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since
there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be
delivered, every one who is found written in the book. And many of those who
sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to
shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:1-2).
The time of the end
In addition to the
troubles coming to Jacob’s descendants, Jesus also spoke of an unprecedented
time of difficulty that would threaten all nations just before His return.
Describing this
period of time, Jesus said, “For then
there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of
the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were
shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be
shortened” (Matthew 24:21-22).
This Great
Tribulation leads up to the time called the Day of the Lord.
Deliverance
Even though the
descendants of Jacob are going to face severe punishment for their disobedience
to God, He promises: “‘I will bring back
from captivity My people Israel and Judah,’ says the LORD. ‘And I will cause
them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess
it’” (Jeremiah 30:3).
Describing this
time of restoration, God continues: “‘For
it shall come to pass in that day,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘that I will break
his yoke from your neck, and will burst your bonds; foreigners shall no more
enslave them. But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king,
whom I will raise up for them.
“‘Therefore
do not fear, O My servant Jacob,’ says the LORD, ‘nor be dismayed, O Israel;
for behold, I will save you from afar, and your seed from the land of their
captivity. Jacob shall return, have rest and be quiet, and no one shall make
him afraid. For I am with you,’ says the LORD, ‘to save you; though I make a full
end of all nations where I have scattered you, yet I will not make a complete
end of you. But I will correct you in justice, and will not let you go
Even though Jacob’s
descendants will face severe punishment in “the
time of Jacob’s trouble,” they will eventually repent and be restored.
Are you struggling with a big decision or wondering how
your eternal future will play out?
Why not talk to the God of the universe and let Him work
in your behalf?
He says, “I will
instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my
eye upon you" (Psalm 32:8).
Ask God to show you what to do. Pray the following
prayer:
“Heavenly
Father,
I admit that I
am a sinner and my sins have separated me from You. I now want to turn away
from my past sinful life and begin a new life with You.
Please forgive
me. I now receive your Son, Jesus Christ as my Savior, my Master and my Lord. I
believe and confess that Jesus Christ died for my sins, was buried, and rose from
the dead.
I want to
receive all that Jesus Christ has provided for me as my Savior. Your Word says,
‘Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved’ (Romans 10:13).
I believe and
confess that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no man comes
unto the Father, but by Him.
Lord Jesus, I
pray and ask You, to come into my heart and be Lord of my life. I thank You
that you have given me eternal life, and according to Your Word, I am born
again.
Heavenly
Father, thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit that is in me now. I
surrender my life to You. I promise to study Your Word – the Bible.
Use me for
Your glory.
In Jesus Name.
Amen.”
Related Posts:
God is not finished with the Jewish people, or with you! http://puricarefiles.blogspot.com/2016/05/israel-god-would-make-new-covenant-with.html
“WHEN THE
SPIRIT OF THE LORD”
FRED HAMMOND
lyrics
When
the Spirit of the Lord comes upon my heart
I will dance like David danced
When the Spirit of the Lord comes upon my heart
I will dance like David danced
I will dance, dance, dance like David danced
I will dance, dance, dance like David danced
When the Spirit of the Lord comes upon my heart
I will pray like David prayed
When the Spirit of the Lord comes upon my heart
I will pray like David prayed
I will pray, pray, pray like David prayed
I will pray, pray, pray like David prayed
When the Spirit of the Lord comes upon my heart
I will sing like David sang
When the Spirit of the Lord comes upon my heart
I will sing like David sang
I will sing, I will sing, sing like David sang
I will sing, I will sing, sing like David sang
I will pray, I will pray, pray like David prayed
I will pray, I will pray, pray like David prayed
I will dance, I will dance, dance like David danced
I will dance, I will dance, dance like David danced
I will dance, I will dance, dance, dance
(Repeat)
I will dance like David danced
When the Spirit of the Lord comes upon my heart
I will dance like David danced
I will dance, dance, dance like David danced
I will dance, dance, dance like David danced
When the Spirit of the Lord comes upon my heart
I will pray like David prayed
When the Spirit of the Lord comes upon my heart
I will pray like David prayed
I will pray, pray, pray like David prayed
I will pray, pray, pray like David prayed
When the Spirit of the Lord comes upon my heart
I will sing like David sang
When the Spirit of the Lord comes upon my heart
I will sing like David sang
I will sing, I will sing, sing like David sang
I will sing, I will sing, sing like David sang
I will pray, I will pray, pray like David prayed
I will pray, I will pray, pray like David prayed
I will dance, I will dance, dance like David danced
I will dance, I will dance, dance like David danced
I will dance, I will dance, dance, dance
(Repeat)
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