Jeremiah’s Land Purchase
Open Your Bible
Jeremiah 32:1-44, Psalm 62:11-12, 1 Peter 1:17-19
BY Claire Gibson
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.
60 thoughts on "Jeremiah’s Land Purchase"
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42“For this is what the Lord says: Just as I have brought all this great disaster on these people, so am I about to bring on them all the good I am promising them.
THIS!
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Nothing is too difficult for You! Believing and trusting in Him, He after all is the creator of the heavens and the earth! He sets the sun in the sky by day and the moon and stars he placed by night …. how can I choose not to trust!!!! So encouraged by this today! Thank you
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Amen Kristen, Churchmouse, Lizzie, Sharon,JerseyGirl, Natalie, Crystal Whitlock, Laurel, Ann and Paula Robinson.
Nowelle Sigman believe me God has a purpose for everything, I have this to be true after the death of my oldest son at the age of 18. Because of his death many of my son’s friends got saved and when they were looking for his body on the creek he drowned in they saved the lives of 11 other people and that is just the beginning. I’ll be praying for you.
Love what you said Angie.
Bethany Elza one thing is certain we can trust and rely on God to get us through this. -
For me His faithful covenant has been fully met in Christ! No matter what I go though here on this earth, I know I’m His and I’ll be with Him forever in the fullness of His Joy forevermore. We know from His Word that through many tribulations we enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I know it’s not easy- I’m concerned and hurting too but even more I choose to be satisfied in all that Christ is for me in God! He is better than life! Jesus will show His mighty power to deliver us and will strengthen our faith yo endure! He definitely has the resources and resolve and love through his covenant promises to save us— A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD!
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Jeremiah’s trust and belief in God, despite how it looked, fits so well with the narrative in Hebrews 11.
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Angie, what a beautiful point you make. I often apologize to God in the midst of prayer because let’s be honest, there are times when our minds are swimming and it’s hard to focus. Thank you for making Him so personal and relatable.
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Happy Spring, I don’t know about anyone else but the one thing that hasn’t been taken from us with this pandemic is being able to step out and enjoy God’s great creation. I’m grateful it did not come in winter when it would be too cold here in the Midwest to get outside.
In today’s scripture it reminds me/us, I/we am/are God’s people. God is looking out for me/us, He has to be trusted. Yes that’s a hard thing to do but I think He is the one I would trust the most right now. Claire said just what I needed to hear today in her last sentence, “Obedience is hard, and the truth is, we need God to help us obey Him.” Claire is so right though in saying we need God’s help to obey Him.
God help us to obey and listen to You. Help us to not fear what is happening around us but to know about it and to listen and abide by the guidelines. God watch over all these wonderful SRT sisters and their families, watch over my family and keep us safe. Amen-
I couldn’t agree more, when I look around and see all the beautiful flowers and the warm sunshine it puts joy in my heart and reminds me that God is creator of all things, is anything impossible for him? I also love to read, things will be normal again, people will by land, plant gardens …. it reminds me that this will be over at some point and God has plans for them as well!
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So when is Jeremiah 32:40 coming to pass? Not here yet. His everlasting covenant hasn’t started yet of only good coming to us obviously. Seems like we are in a plague.
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I think Jesus has fulfilled that everlasting covenant.
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