“If you have run with footman, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses?  And if in the land of peace, in which you trusted, then how will you do in the floodplain of the Jordan?” (Jeremiah 12:5).

Let us understand the context.  Jeremiah, the prophet, is spiritually weary.  Why does the LORD allow wickedness to exist in the land? (Jeremiah 11:20; 12:1-4).  The LORD does not answer Jeremiah’s question.  Instead, He responds saying, Jeremiah, it is about to get much worse.  (1) You need to get ready to run with horses (that is – contend with even more difficult circumstances, or even more powerful enemies).  (2) You need to get ready for a flood (that is – difficult times compared to what now exists).    These two allusions are worth a closer look.  (1) How would you do running with horses? God is probably speaking in hyperbole (exaggeration).  However, can you imagine running a race against horses?  The American quarter horse typically stands 14-16 hands tall at the withers (a location on the shoulders).  A hand is the equivalent to four inches.  It weighs 950-1,200 pounds.  It can reach a top speed of 55 mph and can run a quarter mile in about 21 seconds.  The current world record for a man in the quarter mile is 43.03 seconds by Wayde Van Niekerk.  The fastest human speed reached, on record, is 27.78 mph by Usain Bolt during a 100-meter race.  The thoroughbred typically stands 15-17 hands tall and weighs 990-1,200 lbs.  It can reach a top speed of about 44 mph and run a mile in about 1 minute and 36 seconds.  The current world record for a man in the mile is 3 minutes, 43.13 seconds by Hicham El Guerrouj.  Can a man beat a horse in a race?  The answer is yes, if the race is either very short or very long.  A man can beat a horse in a 50-yard dash.  Dwain Chambers, in 2017, beat a horse in a 100-meter race.  A man v. horse marathon has been run in Wales annually since 1980.  It is a 22-mile cross-country race in mountainous terrain.  Man has won 4 times.  Another man v. horse marathon exists in Arizona.  It has been run annually since 1983.  It is a 50-mile cross-country race in mountainous conditions.  Man has won once.  However, these man v. horse marathons are a bit unfair because the horse must stop and be checked by a veterinarian at certain intervals.  Man does not have to stop.

(2) How would you do in flooded conditions?  Imagine life as already challenging and then the flood comes.  The Jordan river commonly over-flowed its banks in the spring.  This not only brought much water into the floodplains, but it also scattered wild animals, such as lions, to higher ground.  This brought danger to some Israelites. 

The lesson is that challenging and difficult times were to come.  Jeremiah needed to trust God despite the difficulties.  He needed endurance. 

Application for us: We too need endurance.  “For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise” (Hebrews 10:36).  Jesus is our perfect example.  “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls” (Hebrews 12:1-3).