Jeremiah 27:5
“‘I have made the earth, the men, and the animals that are on the surface of the earth by my great power and by my outstretched arm. I give it to whom it seems right to me.”
What does Jeremiah 27:5 mean?
God is reminding the people of Judah, during a time when they faced conquest by Babylon, that he created everything and remains in control of how history unfolds. The "great power" and "outstretched arm" are phrases that echo God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt, anchoring this reassurance in their own lived memory of divine faithfulness. When God says he gives the earth "to whom it seems right to me," it's not about arbitrary whim but about God's justice and purposes, which sometimes include allowing difficult circumstances so his people will trust him rather than their own strength or political alliances. For anyone facing uncertainty or loss today, this verse invites us to remember that the God who made all things hasn't stepped away from his creation, even when the world feels chaotic or out of control.