Whether we like it or not, we will obey the Lord our God to whom we are sending you with our plea. For if we obey him, everything will turn out well for us. (Jeremiah 42:6)

Read: Jeremiah 42:1 – 44:23, 2 Timothy 2:1-21, Psalm 92:1 – 93:5, Proverbs 26:3-5

Relate: Isn’t it ironic that “Isn’t It Ironic” isn’t ironic? Let’s think about this:

An old man turned 98. He won the lottery and died the next day – Not irony, unfortunate coincidence. But seriously, why is someone playing the lottery at that age? All he is doing is throwing a hornet’s nest into the inheritance squabble.

It’s a black fly in your Chardonnay – That isn’t irony, it’s just gross. (By the way, I have a great joke. An Englishman, a Scottsman, and an Irishman all walk into a bar… Oh, nevermind)

It’s a death row pardon two minutes too late – Not irony. Just bureaucracy hard at work.

It’s like rain on your wedding day – That isn’t irony, that is bad weather.

It’s a free ride when you’ve already paid – Nope. But hey, maybe they’ll take a rain check on that.

It’s the good advice that you just didn’t take – That isn’t irony, it is stupidity.

Then there’s a whole stanza about the plane crash. Just because you drag it out, doesn’t make it irony, Alanis.

Skipping ahead…

A traffic jam when you’re already late – Still not irony. (But it is typical Istanbul traffic)

A no-smoking sign on your cigarette break – Nope, just positive motivation. Kick that habit already.

10,000 spoons when all you need is a knife – What on earth is anybody doing with that many spoons?

It’s meeting the man of my dreams, and then meeting his beautiful wife – Not irony and also not possible. I’m still single.

So, nope. That’s it. We’ve worked our way through every ironical situation in the song only to find that the only irony is the title itself. You want irony? When your child is yelling, turn and yell as loud as you can at them, “NO YELLING IN THIS HOUSE!” That’s irony. Imagine someone who lives downtown spray painting on the side of his building, “I hate graffiti. Stop spray painting my property” That’s irony. Now imagine a bunch of firemen frantically trying to put out a fire that is destroying their big red truck. That’s irony.

React: Ironic or not, AM’s song does start playing through my head every time I am reading my way past Jeremiah 42. These guys are idiots. Jerusalem has been ransacked. Those not taken into exile have been riven with internal dissension and infighting. The countryside is a barren wasteland. But it is our home. Should we stay behind and try to rebuild or should we all pack our bags and head to Egypt? They ask Jeremiah to ask God. They promise to abide with whatever God tells them to do. God says “stay.” They say “syke!” (I seriously think that is the first time I’ve used that word since high school.) Then they pack their bags, head to Egypt… and all die there. Isn’t it ironic? (Hint… no)

Have I ever done pretty much the same thing? Do I seek out advice until I find someone willing to give the advice I want to hear? Do I wring my hands and ask, “God what should I do?” When I know, and He knows I know, and everybody else knows that He knows I know and have known all along what I really should do. It just isn’t what I want to do so I act all indecisive. Have you ever been there? Have you ever received that good advice that you just didn’t take?

Respond:

God, I thank you for your grace and patience. I am quick to wander, and I am slow to do what I know I should if I would rather be doing something else. I pray you will take my heart and teach me to follow you because your ways are best for me. Amen