In Jeremiah 36, God told the prophet Jeremiah to write down every word He had spoken about Israel, Judah, and the nations. Jeremiah dictated the words to his helper, Baruch, who wrote them on a scroll. This was a record from God, meant to be read to the people so they would have a chance to repent.
The timing was perfect. It was the ninth month, during a fast that the leaders had called. Crowds filled the Temple, including the most powerful people in the land. Baruch read the scroll aloud so everyone could hear what God said about their sins and the coming judgment.
Word reached King Jehoiakim, and the scroll was brought to him. The room was warm from all fire. As the scroll was read, the king took a penknife, cut off a section, and tossed it into the fire. He did this slowly and calmly, three or four columns at a time, until the whole scroll was burned.
Jehoiakim thought he could destroy God’s message by destroying the paper it was written on. But God simply told Jeremiah to write it again. And this time, God added more words. The second scroll had the same message as the first, plus new judgments for the king’s rebellion.
The more Jehoiakim tried to silence God, the stronger the message became.
It is the same today. People have tried to ban, burn, and bury the Bible, yet it remains the most printed, most read, and most translated book in the world. Every time someone attacks it, God proves His Word cannot be erased. You can burn the paper, but you cannot burn the truth.
If the Lord says something, it will stand. If He gives a warning, it will come to pass. The wise choice is to hear Him and obey. Jehoiakim could have humbled himself and spared his life, but pride kept him from listening.
When God speaks, the right response is not to cut it up. The right response is to open your heart.
