“Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots?  Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil.”  (Jeremiah 13:23).

These words were said to a rebellious people in Judah.  They had grown so accustomed to doing evil that they would not change.  Captivity was coming, if they would not listen (13:17).  They would be scattered (13:24). 

God did not want it this way.  However, they had refused to listen (13:10-11),  and would continue to do so (13:15-17).  The reason for their coming shame was their iniquities (13:22).  They had forgotten the LORD (13:25).

Their current state of rebellion is likened to two things which cannot change.  (1) An Ethiopian cannot change the color of his skin.  (2) A leopard cannot change its spots.     There are two mistakes to avoid in considering this passage.  First, we should not assume that the Ethiopian’s skin or the leopard’s spots are bad.  This is not the point.  The Ethiopian’s dark skin is advantageous for life in Africa.  Darker skin offers protection from the damaging effects of UV radiation.  The leopard’s spots help in camouflage.  The point of comparison is not that these things are bad.  The point is these are things which cannot be changed.  It is possible to become so corrupt in sin that one cannot stop.  Second, we should not assume that these Jews were born rebellious to God.  The Ethiopian was born with dark skin. The leopard was born with spots.  However, these Jews, “would not hear” (13:11).  They had “forgotten” the LORD (13:25).  The point of comparison is not in how things are born.  The point of comparison is in what cannot change.

We should beware of the dangers of sin.  Wayne Jackson comments, “Judah’s sin appeared to be so ingrained that she was beyond changing (v. 23; Hosea 5:4).  Persistent sin can lead to an ingrained pattern of behavior that is almost impossible to break (Ephesians 4:19; 1 Timothy 4:2; 2 Peter 2:14)” (Wayne Jackson, The Prophets, p. 141). 

Bonus facts.  The leopard is incredibly strong.  It is generally considered to be pound for pound the strongest of the big cats.  A large leopard may weigh 165 lbs.  It can carry a carcass weighing as much as 220 lbs. up a tree, even 50 feet, to keep it from other predators such as lions and hyenas.

Many people have difficulty distinguishing between a leopard and a cheetah.  Here are a few of things to look for in identification.  A leopard’s spots form rosettes.  A cheetah’s spots are solid round or oval spots.  Also, cheetah’s have black “tear marks” that run down from the inner corner of their eyes.  A leopard does not.  Leopards are nocturnal (move about more at night).  Cheetahs are diurnal (move about more in daylight).  Cheetahs are much faster (70 – 75 mph v. 36 mph).  Cheetahs are more slenderly built and have proportionately a longer tail.

Many also have difficulty distinguishing between the leopard and the jaguar.  Here are some things to consider.  Leopards are in Africa and Asia.  Jaguars are in North and South America. Leopards have spots. Jaguars have rosettes and spots inside them. Jaguars are larger than leopards (220 – 300 lbs. v. 165 lbs.).  Jaguars are fond of water.  Leopards not as much.

God’s creation is amazing.