LIFE SCRIPTS

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 NIV

https://jeremiah.bible/jeremiah-29-11

This message of hope came to the people of Israel from the prophet Jeremiah. However, what actually was the situation then in Judah? Why was such a thrusty hope message necessary at this point in time? This message was given in the context of the deportation of the people of Judah to the land of Babylon. A glimpse into the situation can be found in the last two chapters of II Kings. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had besieged the city for at least two years and the sitting king of Judah, Jehoiachin had been replaced by his uncle Zedekiah. Since the Babylonians had encamped outside the city for two years, the supplies were running out fast. There was no food, no resources etc. So when push came to shove, Zedekiah, forsook his people, broke the walls of the city of Jerusalem and escaped with his men. However, he was overtaken on the plains of Jericho and presented to the king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath where his sentence was pronounced and many were executed including his sons. The king of Babylon then sent his captain of the guard to destroy Jerusalem, the temple and carry the people there into exile. This was the historical background of these verses. A context that painted a picture of sheer hopelessness. So Jeremiah wrote aetter to the exiles who had been taken captive and encouraged them to live a full life in the land of exile. To plant and to harvest, to build, to marry and prosper because Gods plans were for them to prosper and succeed. How possible was it that the exiles would see good in the midst of such confusion and mayhem? How possible was it that they would see life when some of them had lost their loved ones? How possible was it that they would see God when a pagan king had attacked the city of God, destroyed the temple and carried off His people into exile? These are the same questions we ask ourselves to this day and even in the midst of our situations. How possible is it for a Christian to believe in God when they’re witnessing their loved one succumb to cancer? How possible is it for a widow to see God in the picture when the only property left by her husband is being taken away leaving her children destitute? How possible is it for a young man to see God when he struggles in unemployment as his peers bribe their way into jobs? In the book of Jeremiah, Gods people were victims of His judgement upon them. In our world today, the suffering, hopelessness and problems we have are as a result of sin. They are as a result of man’s unfairness to another. Nothing breeds hopelessness as sin. The hopelessness in our world today compares to that of the days of exile through a uniting factor called sin. Scripture says that for all have sinned and fallen short of His glory. However, God’s word gives us something sin deprives us of, hope. This hope may not make sense but just because it is His word, we have assurance. This hope we have is banked on God knowing the plans He has for us. In the midst of the thick of things, He’s concerned about us. But He also calls upon us to rise up, pick up the pieces, dust ourselves and glorify Him in our lives. To do our best. If it’s work, to do work the best way we can. If it’s raising our children, to do the same. If it’s commitment to marriage to remain faithful. To live life in honor of Him as we look forward to the hope He has laid for us. When all things on earth pass, our ultimate hope is uniting with Him in heaven. There we shall have eternal rest.