Jeremiah 6:16 is relative instruction for us. The Lord does not change His message. It says, “Thus says the Lord: Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk in it.”

There was another time when the Lord spoke to the children of Israel. Their response was the same. Isaiah 30:15 says, “For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength. But you would not.”

Why does our heart rebel? 1 Samuel 15:23 says, “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord…” These words were spoken to king Saul by Samuel. Witchcraft is a spirit that opposes God and His ways.

Jesus is our example of One who followed His Father’s commands. Isaiah 50:6 says, “I gave My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting.” Isaiah 53:10 says, “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin…”

Hebrews 5:8 says, “Though He were a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things that He suffered.” Progressive sanctification is God’s way to train us in His way. 1 Peter 4:12 says, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you.”

Balaam’s way did not please the Lord. He stood as an adversary against Him. We can be assured that when our way is not pleasing the Lord, He will bring course correction. That is blessed intervention. I love Psalm 18. There are so many rich truths. Verse 28 says, “For You will light my lamp; the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.” 

Luke 11:34 says, “The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your whole body is full of darkness.” When others look in your eyes, what do they see? Habakkuk 1:13 says of the Lord, “You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and You cannot look upon wickedness…”

What we look at affects our heart. Psalm 12:6 says, “The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.” Psalm 19:8 says, “The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.” Psalm 119:71 should be our perspective in our suffering. It says, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.”