Confession: often, when I read the Bible, I’m less interested in what’s happening in the passage and more focused on what’s in it for me: What does this passage mean for me today? How can it help, comfort, console, or advise me right now? But rather than trying to turn it into a self-help book that is tailor-made to fix all of my own personal problems, I need to remember that the book of Jeremiah is a prophetic book written to a specific people at a specific point in history, though it also gives us a glimpse of the new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31–34).
In Jeremiah 32, something strange happens. Jeremiah dreams that someone will come and offer him the chance to purchase a field. Sure enough, his cousin comes to him and offers him the chance to buy a piece of land. However, the timing of this land purchase is odd; while the entire nation of Israel is in exile, away from the promised land, Jeremiah is reinvesting in it, doubling down on God’s promise. In essence, Jeremiah’s actions are saying that even though God’s people are in exile, He still has plans for the land and for His people. Jeremiah’s purchase is designed to demonstrate his faith in God’s promised restoration, and in purchasing the land, he participates in that restoration.
Jeremiah’s prayer is simultaneously one of great faith and confusion. At the end of his prayer of praise, Jeremiah rehashes all of the disaster that has come upon Judah. Their city is under siege, sword, famine, and plague, and yet God has asked the prophet to do this seemingly ridiculous thing: to buy a piece of land in the middle of a war zone. But God keeps His promises, something Jeremiah knew well. So while he was perplexed by God’s request, he continued to act on God’s orders anyway.
Though I should resist trying to translate this story directly to my own life, I cannot help but be amazed by Jeremiah’s willingness to follow the Lord in everything. He did not wait to completely understand God’s calling, to understand why, in order to obey Him. Obedience is hard, and the truth is, we need God to help us obey Him.
Lord, Your thoughts and ways are better than our own. Help us to trust you and strengthen us to obey You, even when we do not understand what You are doing.
This study could not have come at a better time. The people of Judah lives were being disrupted, turned upside down, never to be the same again. Yet God, in His mercy and grace, promises to restore them. They will return to their land, rebuild their homes…but oh my goodness! They will be changed. Their hearts will be turned back to God. They will have a new understanding of His love and faithfulness.
May we also be changed through this disruption of our lives. May we seek God with our whole hearts and learn anew of His goodness and faithfulness.
Hugs and prayers for all my SRT sisters. ❤️
How fitting to read this passage today in light of what we are facing in our world right now. The phrases that jumped off the page to me were these: “by Your great power and outstretched arm,” “There is nothing too hard for You,” “the Great, the Mighty God whose name is the Lord of hosts,” “You are great in counsel and mighty in work,” and “with a strong hand and an outstretched arm.” As crazy as everything seems right now, God is in control – He’s got this! We can have the peace that passes all understanding when the rest of the world is fearful and panicking — because we know our God reigns! Lord, help us as believers to be the light in the darkness, the witness and example of Your love, Your peace, Your presence. May many lost souls come to know the greatness of Your power, in these uncertain times. In Jesus name, Amen.
Agreeing with you in prayer! Amen.
Lord, you are powerful. You have a plan and you keep your promises. I trust you and I choose to obey you even when I cannot see. You are faithful. Your justice and steadfast love are powerful. You never change. You are involved in our lives and you are my God, we are your people! Jeremiah 32:19. Thank you that you guide my steps and you never leave me, you are the God who formed the heavens. I praise you, for your steadfast love endures forever. You break me in order to heal me, you hold my heart. I can pour out my heart to you. Please help me to be satisfied in you alone, you are God, I am yours. Jeremiah 32:38-43.
Nowelle, praying for you. For His provision. He always has shown me when I have been in need , sometimes great need that He is my Abundant God. Nothing is too great for Him. Hoping you find work that blesses you greatly. As with Jeremiah sometimes things don’t make sense and as many have pointed out Jeremiah was obedient to God without it making sense to him. Praying for God’s help in my own obedience, not that I, who am usually an over thinker, analyzer could just hear His voice and act in obedience. Our Lord is life. May His light shine through us all. His Joy to you all Sisters.
How timely this study had been- especially this week. I am grateful the beautiful reminders of God’s promise to heal and restore.
This is a beautiful metaphor! I don’t often scroll through the comments, but I’m so glad I did today. :)
Jeremiah’s prayer seems all over the place as he praises God in one breath and then goes into reviewing the sword, famine, and plague, troubles and devastation in the next.
Which makes me thankful. When I talk with a friend I trust, we can go all over the place, in one conversation, in 5 minutes. Sometimes my prayers seem all over. I might start with adoration and praise, wait, there is this thing for this person, thankfulness, oh and Lord, what about this other thing… all over. BUT, not really. I can trust my best friend completely. My best friend, God in the Trinity. He knows my heart and mind, better than I do. Prayer is a time of worship, yes. But, it is also a time of pouring out. The times of deeper, less all-over-the-place prayers happens and He hears. The times of all-over-the-place prayers do also and He hears. His love never changes.
I wrote, after reading today, “We must be emptied, and cleaned out, before we can be refilled with the purity of Jesus.” And then I laughed because the other day I shared about my type A propensity. (I do try to keep my home pretty clean.) I went to the basement today and found a sippy cup from my grandson that had had chocolate milk in it. It had been there a long while, apparently. I’m not sure what happened but, dried, caked, evaporated, sticky chocolate milk had come up through the straw, spread across the table and down one of the cracks. I spent 30 minutes trying to de-gunk and clean up the grossness. I laughed when I thought about it after writing what I did in my reading today. That cup was an awful mess and it took me a long time to clean up. Filled with anything except Jesus, the cup of my life and spirit are even worse than what I cleaned up. But, Jesus paid it all. Surrendering my all to God immediately He cleaned and purified my cup and fills me with Himself. In reverence I am redeemed by the precious blood of Christ just like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb (or a perfectly clean/sanitized cup). He is my God and will give integrity of heart and action, life in fearful reverence of Him, for my good, and the good of my descendants. I am living in this foreign land, but not alone. God indwells my cup. In Him is all hope.
LOVE your personal insights today, angie! Beautiful analogy. Thanks so much for sharing ❤️