08/26/2026
Weekly Devotion
“Am I only a God nearby,” declares the Lord, “and not a God far away? Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?” declares the Lord. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the Lord. “I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy in My name. They say, ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’ How long will this continue on the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions of their own minds? They think the dreams they tell one another will make My people forget My name, just as their fathers forgot My name through Baal worship. Let the prophet who has a dream tell his dream, but let the one who has My word speak it faithfully. For what has straw have to do with grain?” declares the Lord. “Is not My word like fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?” (Jer. 23:23-29)
Baal: When God’s people entered Canaan, the Promised Land, they encountered the worship of Baal, “a Canaanite and Phoenician deity and the son of the chief god El. In artistic depictions and archaeological finds, Baal took the shape of a bull or ram and had association with fertility.” [Source: christianity.com] Why did the Canaanites worship Baal? He “was believed to enable the earth to produce crops and people to produce children.” [Source: bing.com]
God warned His people repeatedly not to have anything to do with Baal, his worship, his false prophets. His people repeatedly succumbed to temptation anyway, were guilty of idol worship, and suffered God’s wrath as a consequence. They should have known better, right? So, what happened?
They turned away from God’s Word and followed false prophets. We face temptations to chase after other gods today, too, even if they don’t take the form of bulls and rams. We face temptations to heed the words of false prophets. God warns us about these false prophets in this week’s reading. Those who preach the false doctrine of the prosperity gospel come to mind, but there are many others. God’s true prophet, Jeremiah, speaking God’s words, says, “Let the prophet who has a dream tell his dream, but let the one who has My word speak it faithfully . . . Is not My word like a fire . . . and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?” We are to constantly to test the truthfulness of any prophet against the truth—the only source of truth—Holy Scripture.
Save us from false gods and false prophets, O Lord. Instead, may we always hold fast to the truth of forgiveness and salvation, found only in Your Word and through Your Son Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer. We pray in His name. Amen.
