If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?
If you've been running with people on foot and they've worn you out, how can you possibly compete with horses? And if you're already exhausted in a peaceful, safe place where you felt secure, what will you do when you face the dangerous, rushing waters of the Jordan River?
God is challenging Jeremiah that if he's struggling with smaller difficulties now, he needs to prepare himself for much greater challenges ahead.
📚 Historical Context
Jeremiah had been complaining to God about the prosperity of the wicked and questioning God's justice. God responds with this metaphor, preparing Jeremiah for the increasingly difficult opposition he would face as a prophet. The 'swelling of Jordan' refers to the dangerous flooding that occurred during certain seasons when the river would overflow its banks.
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