Bothersome to Beautiful

Devotional by Phil Morgan

I have to admit, Jeremiah 29:11 has always bothered me. It’s a comforting verse, “‘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.'” Yet, it has always felt like a promise made to someone else that we claim for encouragement, usually in times of doubt and uncertainty. The Lord was speaking to the Israelites who had been torn from their homes and taken away as captives to Babylon, not twenty-first century believers in need of a little positive-thinking attitude adjustment.

On my last pass through the book of Jeremiah I was reminded of a truth: many times scriptures that are bothersome become beautiful when taken in context! Let’s take a look at some verses in Jeremiah 29. (I’ll add some thoughts in parentheses as we go.)

4 – This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem (home) to Babylon (a foreign land):

10 – This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years (see note below) are completed for Babylon (not home), I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place (home).”

Then comes our favorite verse, followed by a bit more detail in vs 14 – “I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

So God’s message is basically that the Israelites (His children) were going to live for many years in a place that was not their home, but when the time was completed, God himself will bring them to their true home. Isn’t it interesting that he mentions the time as a ‘stranger in a strange land’ will be seventy years? Psalm 90:10 declares “The days of our lives are seventy years…”

Sounds like the old gospel tune, “This world is not my home, I’m just passing through,” doesn’t it? This is an aspect of God’s character we can draw strength and hope from each day – God doesn’t promise a trouble-free life here (we’re in exile!), but when our stay is completed, God himself will bring His children home! Amen and Amen!!

So what do we do in the meantime? Verses 5-7 give our answer – “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

In other words, live your life, make the most of each day, and be a positive influence on the world – but don’t get too comfortable. One of these days God will bring His children to our true home where we’ll live forever with Him. Jesus said it himself – “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” – John 14:3

There’s just one word for that promise… heavenly!​

Looking up,
Phil and Pam​

PS. If you’d like a reminder of God’s heavenly promise, Phil has made a beautiful Jeremiah 29:11 plaque pictured above. Head over to www.HarmonyHeartwood.com to get one for yourself or someone special!

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