Answering Jeremiah 19:5
Transcript:
Regardless of which theological system you’re dealing with, there will always be difficult passages unique to that system. Anyone who does not see, recognize, or admit that this is true of their theological system is not to be taken seriously. If they are not honest with their own theological system, then they won’t be honest with yours. For if they have no room for nuances in theirs, then neither will they allow room for yours.
No matter which theological system you adhere to, there will always be difficult or perplexing passages that need to be reconciled with it.
On the surface, Jeremiah 19:5 appears to refute divine determinism, a position heavily influenced by translating a key Hebrew word as “decree” (MEV, ESV). However, that word can also be accurately rendered as ‘speak’ (KJV, NKJV), ‘mention’ (NIV, CSB), or ‘ordered not’ (LEB, CEB). Focusing solely on ‘decree’ leads to a particular interpretation that isn’t biblical.
What we have in Jeremiah 19:5 is God speaking after the manner of men, to show how detestable and wicked such a sin is that He does not even want to consider them as happening. God gave no instruction or permission within His revealed will that child sacrifice is acceptable. In this sense, He did not decree it as an earthly ruler would issue a decree; for example, “King Cyrus issued a decree to build this house of God” (Ezra 5:13). While God neither commanded nor approved of child sacrifice, He permissively allowed it within His eternal plan, and in that sense He decreed it.
If you believe that’s double-speak or contradictory, consider Samson’s marriage to a pagan woman. God’s revealed will forbids such unions (Exodus 34:12-16), yet it was part of His secret will for Samson to marry one (Judges 14:4). It aligned with His eternal plan.
Furthermore, Jeremiah 19:9 presents another challenging example, where God causes cannibalism – just three verses after verse 5! This event actually occurred, as recorded in 2 Kings 6:33. God does not approve of cannibalism, yet He was the One who brought it about. Likewise, He didn’t approve of child sacrifice, yet He was the One causing it.