What does it mean when God asks, “Who is like Me?” (Jeremiah 49:19)?

Answer

When God poses the rhetorical question, “Who is like Me?” in Jeremiah 49:19, He is emphasizing His incomparability—there is no one similar to Him. The passage in (Jeremiah 49:19-21) closely resembles Jeremiah 50:44–46, where the same rhetorical questions are reiterated: “Who is like me and who can challenge me? And what shepherd can stand against me?” «Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan unto the habitation of the strong: but I will make them suddenly run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me? », (Jeremiah 50:44).

In Jeremiah 49, the prophet delivers God’s judgment on the nation of Edom for its pride and prejudice. When the Lord’s judgment falls on Edom, no one will be able to prevent the destruction because there is no one like Yahweh in all the earth. No one possesses the strength or power to challenge Him. God is unparalleled, and it is impossible to draw comparisons to Him.

Previously, Jeremiah acknowledged, “No one is like you, LORD; you are great, and your name is mighty in power. Who should not fear you, King of the nations? This is your due. Among all the wise leaders of the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is no one like you” (Jeremiah 10:6-7).

Through the prophet Isaiah, God rebukes the people of Babylon for worshiping worthless idols. He questions, “With whom will you compare me or count me equal? To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?” «To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like? », (Isaiah 46:5). The idolatrous people hire artisans to make gods of gold and silver so they can bow down and worship the artwork. These lifeless objects are dead weights, utterly useless: “They carry it around on their shoulders, and when they set it down, it stays there. It can’t even move! And when someone prays to it, there is no answer. It can’t rescue anyone from trouble” «They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble. », (Isaiah 46:7, NLT).

Unlike Babylon’s false gods, the One true God of Israel can answer His people’s prayers and save them from trouble. He declares, “Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me” «Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, », (Isaiah 46:9). Babylon’s rebellious people are to remember that Yahweh is the only God, and He is unique.

The Lord instructs Moses to tell Pharaoh that the reason He’s inflicting Egypt with plagues is so that the king and all his subjects will know “there is no one like the LORD our God” «And he said, Tomorrow. And he said, Be it according to your word: that you may know that there is none like unto the LORD our God. », (Exodus 8:10). Pharaoh arrogantly thinks He is the most powerful being in the land, but God lets him know “there is no one like me in all the earth” «For I will at this time send all my plagues upon your heart, and upon your servants, and upon your people; that you may know that there is none

Like me in all the earth.”, (Exodus 9:14). Later, after God rescues the Israelites from slavery, Moses sings, “Who among the gods is like you, LORD? Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?” “Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like thee, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders?”, (Exodus 15:11). Moses celebrates the absolute matchlessness and incomparability of God among all other beings.

The Lord answers Hannah’s prayer for a child, and she rejoices, “No one is holy like the LORD! There is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God” “There is none holy as the LORD: For there is none beside thee: Neither is there any rock like our God.”, (1 Samuel 2:2, NLT). When God makes His covenant with David, the king declares, “How great you are, O Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you. We have never even heard of another God like you!” “Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.”, (2 Samuel 7:22, NLT). As David’s son Solomon dedicates the temple in Jerusalem, he affirms in prayer, “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in all of heaven above or on the earth below. You keep your covenant and show unfailing love to all who walk before you in wholehearted devotion” “and he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart.”, (1 Kings 8:23, NL

For the psalmist, there is no one equal: “Among the gods there is none like you, Lord; no deeds can compare with yours” «Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; Neither are there any works like unto thy works. », (Psalm 86:8). On Mount Carmel, God gives fiery proof that He alone is God, and that Baal cannot compare (2 Kings 18).

Sometimes we’re tempted to see our problems as bigger than God. The obstacles loom larger as we focus on our circumstances instead of the greatness of God. The next time this happens, we can remind ourselves, as others have done in Scripture, that nothing in heaven (Isaiah 40:12-26) or on earth (Isaiah 40:21-26) compares with the Lord Almighty. We can face anything in His strength «I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. », (Philippians 4:13).

Scripture says God “rides across the heavens” to help us, “across the skies in majestic splendor” « There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, Who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, And in his excellency on the sky. », (Deuteronomy 33:26, NLT). Don’t let anything or anyone shake your trust in the Lord. Listen to the Holy One’s voice asking, “Who is like Me? To whom will you compare me? And who is my equal?” «To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. », (Isaiah 40:25). And know that His answer is, “No one is like me!”