Denial and Destruction

Jeremiah 36:29 (NRSV)
29And concerning King Jehoiakim of Judah you shall say: Thus says the LORD, You have dared to burn this scroll, saying, Why have you written in it that the king of Babylon will certainly come and destroy this land, and will cut off from it human beings and animals?

The King Jehoiakim had no respect for Jeremiah nor the words he had written on the scroll. The people who first listened to them responded with fear, knowing that disaster was coming because of their disobedience. Though the people were going through a ritual act of fasting, their hearts were not fully following the Lord. When the scroll was read to them, they realized that they needed to inform the King and that he would take heed to the seriousness of the prophetic words and the consequences that would occur if they did not repent. The King held power over the people, and he refused to heed the words he heard as the scroll was read. His reaction was not of fear but of disdain and he burned the scroll. He had an opportunity to lead the people in repentance and spare them from the travesty that would come upon them, but he chose to ignore the words and instead sought to kill Jeremiah for speaking the truth. Burning the words did nothing to change the circumstance as God’s word will always be fulfilled. It never returns void and can never be negated. Muslims today despise the Bible and burn it in defiance as they believe it is corrupt. If the Koran is spoken against, they will punish the person who spoke against it. God’s truth will endure, and one day the Muslims will realize that they have believed a lie. Many are converting to Christianity today as the truth is revealed to them