The Lord instructed Jeremiah to perform a parable (see also Jeremiah 18, 19, 27; see “Prophetic Sign Acts” Theme Note). This parable combined actions with words to highlight key aspects of the Lord’s response to Judah’s rebellion. Jeremiah struggled to fully understand the severe consequences of rejecting the Lord’s command for the people to worship him as the one true God. The direct relationship between Jeremiah and the Lord provided the basis for this event.