“Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom; let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches. But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord. Jeremiah 9:23-24
Why are we here? What is our purpose? Why did God create man? People have been asking such questions for most of human history.
Not to oversimplify, but why do WE have children? Because we want someone to love and someone to love us. We want to have a relationship with them and to share our values with them.
Yahweh is a God of relationship. We see this in the mystery of the trinity. God created us for the purpose of relationship, that we might know Him and love Him.
He doesn’t want lip service of course. He wants our whole heart. And just as earthly parents will be sorrowful if their children turn away from them, rejecting them and the things they have tried to teach, so God feels great emotions when we turn away from Him and His word. He felt strongly when His people turned away during the days of the divided kingdom. Listen to the heart of God as He spoke through the prophet Jeremiah:
“Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing that you have forsaken the LORD your God, and the fear of Me is not in you,” says the Lord God of hosts. (Jeremiah 2:19)
Saying to a tree, “You are my father,” and to a stone, “You gave birth to me.” For they have turned their back to Me and not their face. But in the time of trouble they will say, “Arise and save us.” (2:27)
Why will you plead with Me? You all have transgressed against Me… In vain I have chastened your children; they receive no correction. (2:29)
My people have forgotten Me days without number. (2:32)
Judah has not turned to Me with her whole heart but in pretense says the LORD. (3:10)
Return O backsliding children…for I am married to you. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion. And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. (3:14)
How can I put you among the children and give you a pleasant land, a beautiful heritage of the hosts of nations? And I said, you shall call me Me “My father,” and not turn away from Me. Surely as a wife treacherously departs from her husband, so have you dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel, says the LORD. (3:19)
In family relationships, including our relationship with our heavenly Father, we often say and do foolish and selfish things. When a child becomes estranged or a spouse commits adultery, there will be sorrow, anger, jealousy. It is no different for God when we reject Him. (After all, where do our emotions come from?)
Fortunately God knows us.
As a father pities his children,
So the LORD pities those who fear Him….
He remembers that we are dust. Psalm 103:13-14
And He models for us understanding and forgiveness. God did not completely give up on His relationship with His people in the days of Jeremiah. He said in Jeremiah 31:31-34 that He had a plan for a better covenant where all of his people would know Him and be forgiven.
…for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more. (v. 34)
Why did God want children? Why are we here? If we’re pursuing glory in wisdom, might, or riches, we have misunderstood our purpose in being on this earth and we are rejecting the values of our Father. He gave us life so that we could have a relationship with Him. But a relationship is a two-way street. God already knows us completely for He made us. As any father would, He also wants us to know HIM.
Let him who glories glory in this, that he..knows Me, that I am the Lord. Jeremiah 9:24
Dear Heavenly Father, give me a longing to know You and to have a good relationship with You. Help me see how it hurts You when I go my own way, and please forgive me for the times I have rejected Your guidance and Your love. Give me the wisdom to repair any earthly relationships I have that are not healthy, but help me to put my relationship with You above all others. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
by Christie Cole Atkins
Related reading:
Walk Worthy 