Why does Jeremiah declare that the Lord showed signs and wonders when he brought his people out of Egypt and gave them the land, but they disobeyed his law?
The lasting significance of the Exodus to the nation of Israel is made clear in Jeremiah 16:14. When an Israelite spoke of the Lord they would say, The Lord lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt.
Not only was the Exodus foundational to Israel’s identity as a nation, but more importantly, it was the clearest self-revelation of the Lord’s identity, not only to Israel, but to all mankind.
The Lord brought them out of Egypt with signs and wonders, with a strong hand and outstretched arm, and with great terror.
And he gave them the Promised Land that was flowing with milk and honey. The people ultimately took possession of the land, but despite the Lord’s goodness to them they did not obey your voice or walk in your law. They did nothing of all you commanded them to do.
Jeremiah understands only too well just how miserably Israel has failed in being the Lord’s covenant people, and he understands that, Therefore you have made all this disaster come upon them.
As much as it distresses him, no one understands better than Jeremiah how the nation of Israel, and now Judah in particular, deserved the Lord’s punishment.
19 Tu es grand en conseil et puissant en action; Tu as les yeux ouverts sur toutes les voies des enfants des hommes, Pour rendre à chacun selon ses voies, Selon le fruit de ses œuvres.