Jeremiah 32-34

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2032-34&version=ESV

Jeremiah 32 is a great chapter in which Jeremiah obeys the Lord, even though at the time he is doing so, he doesn't know why he is doing what the Lord is asking him to do.

How often times that is the same for us!! When the Lord tells us through His Word to do something, we are to obey. We may not understand why, but if it is coming from God's Word we can trust that we are doing the right thing.

In Jeremiah chapter 32, the Lord tells Jeremiah to go and buy a field from his cousin, Hanamel. I know Jeremiah was probably thinking, "Lord why should I buy a field here? You have said that you are going to ravage Jerusalem and Judah. Why would I buy a field that is going to be taken over by the Babylonians?" (This is what I think he might have been thinking.)

But Jeremiah obeyed, even though he did not have all the facts. He bought the land. And later in the chapter the Lord revealed to Jeremiah why he was to buy the land.

Listen to how the Lord answered Jeremiah:

"Now therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning this city of which you say, 'It is given into the hand of the king of Babylon by sword, by famine, and by pestilence': Behold, I will gather them from all the countries to which I drove them in my anger and my wrath and in great indignation. I will bring them back to this place, and I will make them dwell in safety. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them. I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul. For thus says the LORD: Just as I have brought all this great disaster upon this people, so I will bring upon them all the good that I promise them. Fields shall be bought in this land of which you are saying, 'It is a desolation, without man or beast; it is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.' Fields shall be bought for money, and deeds shall be signed and sealed and witnessed, in the land of Benjamin, in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, in the cities of the hill country, in the cities of the Shephelah, and in the cities of the Negeb; for I will restore their fortunes, declares the LORD." (Jeremiah 32:36-44)

I love the Lord's answer. He tells Jeremiah that fields will be bought for money and that He will restore their fortunes. But more than that, the Lord re-affirms the New Covenant with the people of Israel, that Jeremiah wrote in Jeremiah 31:31-34. He tells the people He will not turn away from doing good to them. He would put the fear of Him in their hearts so that they would not turn away from Him. And, the Lord said He would rejoice in doing them good!!

The Lord wants to do us good!! When we are disobedient, we should expect discipline from the Lord. The people of Judah were experiencing His discipline. But note how gracious God is: He is the one who initiates the turning of the people back to Him.

The Lord said: "Just as I have brought all this great disaster upon this people, so I will bring upon them all the good that I promise them."

God's Word is true. If we disobey we should expect discipline. However, the Lord is gracious. Sometimes we are not disciplined in the manner we might expect. Never take for granted the Lord's mercy and grace. If you are not disciplined in a severe manner, take that as an act of kindness of the Lord towards you. Don't test God. Repent when you disobey and turn back to Him.

Jeremiah trusted in the Word of the Lord, even though he did not understand why he was buying the land until later. We probably will experience the same thing in our lives, although probably not quite as dramatic as what Jeremiah experienced. We may walk in obedience to the Word of the Lord, and then later, God may reveal to us what He planned for us.

Friends, trust in the Lord. Obey Him. Wait on Him. As Isaiah wrote:

"Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock."
(Isaiah 26:4)

Soli Deo Gloria.

Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.