31st.: Baruch, the Son of Neriah
Being the scribe for a prophet, must have sounded cool to Baruch the son of Nerial.
Why else would he have taken the job?
But he did not foresee the troubles that would come.
Troubles which we see in Jeremiah chapters 36-44.
At one point, Baruch verbally made the comment - perhaps to some friends, or perhaps only to himself,
“Woe is me now! For the Lord has added grief to my sorrow. I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest.” (Jer. 45:3).
It does not look like he directed this comment to God per-se. Nevertheless, God heard it.
Because Baruch was faithful to Jeremiah and God,
God reciprocated that faithfulness,
“… And seek thou great things for thyself. Seek them not.
For, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh … but thy life will I give unto thee,
for a prey in all places where thou goes.” (Jer. 45:5).
God did not promise Baruch material wealth, but He did promise to protect Baruch, wherever he went.
God hears even our ‘off-hand’ comments about Him.
"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:6