Question

Why did Jeremiah have such a hard time convincing them that God would judge their sin and destroy Jerusalem and the temple?

Answer 1

Answer:

Jeremiah preached that God was angry with the Israelites and so he will send destruction to them, exiling them from their home. While the other false prophets talk of success and help from God, Jeremiah's message was of bad news which made it harder for him to convince them of the truth. thus, he had a hard time convincing them that God will judge their sin and destroy Jerusalem and the temple.

Explanation:

n the Book of Jeremiah, we see God speaking and asking Jeremiah to go and preach to the Israelites about his anger and the impending destruction and suffering that will fall on them. Talking of the Babylonians' attack and the exile of the Israelites to Babylon, Jeremiah told the people to return their faith to God and ask for forgiveness. Contrasted with the preaching of the false prophets' good news of victory and safety, Jeremiah's message is that of destruction and death, and others exiled to Babylon.

But the people chose to believe the false prophets who chose to tell them that God is with them and that they will be victorious in their fight against the Babylonian army. They also "prophesy..... false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds." (Jer. 14:14). The people also find it hard to belief that God will break his promise of keeping His people safe, like he had promised. Since the 'good news' prophesied by the false prophets was a much better news than that preached by Jeremiah, he finds it hard to convince them of the punishment and judgement.