Your soldiers stumble
over each other
and say, “Get up!
The enemy will kill us,
unless we can escape
to our own land.”
Give the king of Egypt
this new name,
“Talks-Big-Does-Nothing.” (Jeremiah 46:16-17)
Is it possible to read this without seeing the humor? God is bringing down the ax here, and He sends Jeremiah to announce to everyone that Egypt’s King is all bluster, with no substance.
Do you know someone that could be called “Talks-Big-Does-Nothing”? With the Presidential election coming later this year, I’m pretty sure we all could think of a few examples… but I’m not going to get political here.
I suppose all of us have those co-workers or acquaintances that would fit this description. Here, God is calling out the King of Egypt because He wants to send a message loud and clear that what God dictates to happen will not be swayed by a mere earthly king. See how God continues:
Egypt, I am the true king,
the Lord All-Powerful,
and as surely as I live,
those enemies who attack
will tower over you
like Mount Tabor among the hills
or Mount Carmel by the sea. (Jeremiah 46:18)
Apparently, the people of Israel and Egypt actually thought that they could find protection from King Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian army by turning to the Egyptian King. There was one minor problem with that, however… God Himself sent the Babylonians specifically on a mission to lay waste here, and what God intends to happen, happens every time!
Don’t be like King Talks-Big-Does-Nothing - trust in the one true King! Because when God talks, He follows it with action!