Anticipation of a New Future

September 21, 2014 Background Scripture: Jeremiah 32 Lesson Passage: Jeremiah 32:1 – 9, 14, 15 While the nation of Israel waited in fear, knowing that the capital city of Jerusalem would soon fall to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, God was already laying out the plan for Israel’s future return to Zion. Against what undoubtedly must have appeared to be impossible odds, God was proclaiming a future victory for His people. Although this victory would come seventy years after their imminent defeat, yet it would come with absolute certainty. The Babylonians had invaded Palestine and laid siege to Jerusalem. Judah’s immediate future was dim. Judah’s king, Zedekiah, was holed up in Jerusalem with supplies running low. God’s prophet, Jeremiah, was imprisoned in the king’s prison in his house in Jerusalem. In the midst of this depressing situation, God commanded Jeremiah to purchase some family land that was currently under the control of the Babylonian military. The Babylonians had taken possession of the land but God commanded Jeremiah to purchase it from his cousin. The purpose of this transaction was to demonstrate the assurance that God’s word would come to pass and Israel would again occupy Palestine. Jeremiah was purchasing land from a cousin who no longer had control of the land himself. Meanwhile, King Zedekiah kept Jeremiah locked up in prison because he was convinced that the series of unfolding events happened because Jeremiah had spoken it and not because the Lord had declared it. King Zedekiah made the mistake that many have made through the years. He ascribed God’s work to that of the prophet of God. Prophets do not make things happen by announcing that they will happen. Prophets speak as they are led by the Spirit of God and they only speak what God gives them to speak. Whenever this is the case, then prophecy is like a mold that history is poured into. Prophets don’t change the course of history. They just proclaim what God has revealed to them concerning the future. This is not a comfortable position for a prophet to be in and they often need reassurance from God concerning the word of prophecy. Such was the case in today’s lesson. God told Jeremiah beforehand who would come to him and why they would come. Jeremiah’s cousin was coming to make him such a ludicrous offer, that Jeremiah would need some assurance from God that this was from Him. Jeremiah’s cousin was offering to sell him some family land that he had loss possession of through the occupation of the Babylonian army. God instructed Jeremiah to accept the offer and make the purchase. This transaction was to be a sign to the prophet and to Judah that God would indeed return them to the land of Zion. Judah was about to be severely punished for their iniquity but they were receiving assurance ahead of time that once the punishment was over, God would restore them again. Although their present situation looked bleak, they could still anticipate a new future where they would again be in fellowship with God and living in the land God had given to their ancestors. Robert C. Hudson September 12, 2014