Apr 13 - 29 - Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the plans I have

for you,” declares the LORD,

“plans to prosper you and

not to harm you, plans to

give you hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11

Bible Rank: 29

 

This is many people’s favorite verse.

 

We must say first, that God is addressing this to Israel (Judah, really) … and not specifically to you or to me!!

 

God’s people had been rebellious. Prophet after prophet – including Jeremiah – had wept over Jerusalem and warned the people to repent. They didn’t. So God pulled off his hand of protection and allowed Judah to be over-run by the Babylonians.

 

The first half of Jeremiah is that pleading warning – repent. This verse occurs in the second half of Jeremiah. The invasion has already occurred. Jeremiah is now writing to the exiles who have been carted off to Babylon. The first half of Jeremiah was a warning. The second half is comfort and assurance. God is saying, “Don’t worry. I still have plans for you. And they’re for hope … not harm.” Indeed, trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. (Yesterday’s verse, fits this context indeed.)

 

Now, people understandably like to apply this to their own lives! Therefore, we must say, first, that this passage is not about you; nevertheless, it is how God acts. We can extrapolate that God does indeed have plans to prosper (not harm) you – personally, uniquely, and specifically. He wants to give you hope. He wants to bless your future. That’s part of the Good News that flows from the heart of the Father.

 

But now let me ask you a hard question: This hopeful, comforting passage occurs in the latter half of Jeremiah – in the context where God’s exiled people need hope and comfort – but could it have fit in the first half of Jeremiah?

 

The people of Judah were vile and adulterous. They mocked their Father, and chased after satanic priests and paganistic gods. They were immoral and profane. Thus, the Lord cries to the prophet, “^5:1 Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem … and see if you can find one person who acts justly.” The answer was no – “^5:6 their transgressions are many, their apostasies are great.”

 

Thus God asks, “^5:8 Shall I not bring retribution on a nation such as this?” Indeed, “^22:5 if you will not heed these words,” swears the Lord after twenty pages of calling and scolding and wooing and hoping, “this house shall become a desolation … ⁷ I will prepare destroyers against you …”

 

So here’s the question. This hopeful, comforting passage occurs in the latter half of Jeremiah – in the context where God’s exiled people need hope and comfort – but could it have fit in the first half of Jeremiah?! If God knows the plans he has for you, is he more concerned with your long-term hope than your short-term disaster?

 

Ouch. But absolutely.

 

Many individuals treat this as a sweet, feel-good message. An assurance that everything will be happy if I just follow God. And that’s half right. God’s long-term plans are absolutely to bless you, but sometimes he has to break you first in order to use you. He has to break you of pride. He has to break you of rebellion. He has to break you of apostasy and sin. That’s what he lovingly – though painfully – did for Israel! Judah’s “hope” and “future” could come only after a detour into exile. And that’s what God – lovingly and hopefully NOT painfully – will do for you.

 

Wait! Is there an option to not do this with God’s discipline and pain? Absolutely. We are invited to humble ourselves … before God has to. That’s the message of the exile: repent yourselves willingly or the loving God of your hope and future will humble you to give you the prosperous future that he has in mind.

 

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who has a friend

who instead of saying,

“no pain, no gain,” says,

“no pain, no pain, please”

(Thus, to achieve ‘no pain, no pain,’

I’m opting for Acts 3:19-20:

“Repent therefore,

and turn to the God … so that

times of refreshing may come from

the presence of the Lord.”