Jeremiah 16-18

In the last half od chapter 18 Jeremiah records the details of a conspiracy against him. In a foreshadow of the actions of the Jewish leaders toward the price of peace, they plan the abuse of God's prophet. And what was their motivation? They refused to believe the words of Jeremiah.  It sounds like an argument of unbelievers today: if God is good he wouldn't allow THAT to happen. There are people in the church who feel the same way. Their theology can't comprehend suffering and loss as a planned part of God's kingdom.  If God turned his son over to pagans so that we could find redemption it holds to reason that some of his modern children will be turned over to pagans, just as their Lord was, so that can point the way to Christ among the pagans.
It took me 15 minutes to read this passage.
Stuart