"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans for welfare and not calamity, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 (NASB)
I'm sure we're all familiar with this verse in Jeremiah, but did you know that God proclaimed this promise through a letter written by Jeremiah to the exiles in Babylon?
Chapter 29 begins by stating that this letter is to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. But, now read what verse four says:
"Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon."
To the exiles whom I have sent into exile...not Nebuchadnezzar.
We talked about God Most High (El Elyon) last week, and here we read of His sovereignty. He allowed His people to be taken into exile; this was His plan (no matter what Nebuchadnezzar thought!). God tells His people to build houses and live in them, and plant gardens and eat their produce (29:5). He also says to build their families; take wives, have children--multiply and do not decrease (29:6).
In other words... Keep living.
Because their exile would last seventy years!
But our sovereign God had a plan for the exiles just like He has for us.
"When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans for welfare and not calamity, to give you a future and a hope." (29:10-11)
Last week I said that most confusion and even anger I hear from people has to do with God's sovereignty. It's normal for questions to arise when we try to make sense of an infinite God with our finite minds.
This week, I just couldn't move on to El Roi, the God who sees, so we're making a pit stop, talking a little more about God's sovereignty and what to do when questions confound us.
I pray you enjoy and are blessed by this week's "Pit Stop" video: