Contradiction with Proverbs 3:5
This verse advises trust in the Lord, contrasting the people's failure to trust described in Jeremiah 2:31.
Proverbs 3:5: Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Contradiction with Matthew 7:7
This verse encourages seeking and receiving from God, contrasting with the rejection of God's guidance in Jeremiah 2:31.
Matthew 7:7: Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Contradiction with Isaiah 41:10
This verse offers God's assurance of presence and help, contradicting the people's perception of God as absent in Jeremiah 2:31.
Isaiah 41:10: Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Contradiction with John 14:18
This verse promises that God will not leave the believers as orphans, opposing the feeling of abandonment implied in Jeremiah 2:31.
John 14:18: I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. [comfortless: or, orphans]
Contradiction with Hebrews 13:5
This verse assures God's constant presence, contrasting with the implied disbelief in God's presence in Jeremiah 2:31.
Hebrews 13:5: [Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Paradox #1
Jeremiah 2:31 could be seen as inconsistent when compared with verses that emphasize God's constant presence and guidance for His people. If this verse seems to suggest that God has not been a guiding force, it would conflict with passages that assure believers of God’s ongoing care and support. However, Jeremiah often uses rhetorical questions and imagery to challenge Israel's perception of God’s role, so understanding the context is crucial.
Paradox #2
Jeremiah 2:31 might present a contradiction or conflict because it can be interpreted as God expressing disappointment with the people's forgetfulness, yet it raises the question of why an all-powerful and all-knowing deity would need to express frustration or disappointment. This could seem inconsistent with the notion of an unchanging and omniscient God.