Bibledoorajar appraises justice and suffering

 "This is what the Lord says: 'A voice is heard in Ramah; lamenting and bitter weeping. It is Rachel
weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted for her children, because they are no longer alive.' This is what the Lord says: Stop your weeping, and dry your eyes, for your work will be rewarded."

                                                                      Jeremiah 31: 14-17

Jacob had a new son, but he had lost the love of his life. She died sorrowful; her life cut short. Perhaps she thought she had made a mistake leaving the safety of her home with her father. Perhaps she was so weak and helpless that she wondered if her children would be able to make it to the promised land. Anyway, years later, those descendants, sinful and weak would be taken captive by the Babylonians
(some scholars say Assyria).  They were gathered in Ramah, a city given by God to the descendants of Benjamin before being taken into Babylon (Assyria). They were a miserable lot who had given their hearts over to other gods and who in the main did not value the gifts God had given them. God said Rachel had every reason to be crying, but He told the people to stop their weeping, dry their eyes, for their work would be rewarded.

What a great thing that even as the church sorrows over not being able to rescue those of their number who have been lost to the world, He reassures us through these Bible stories that our work, our efforts, even if unsuccessful, will be rewarded. How great is it that God does not give up. He is always extending His power. His Spirit is always leading. The challenge today is not to give up and to stop our weeping, dry our eyes, and keep on being a servant of the Lord in this troubled world and in the troubled church. Come on, He will help us. He will comfort our hearts.