Jeremiah 32 – 33; Jeremiah 23:1-8; Jeremiah 38; 2 Chronicles 36:13-16; Ezekiel 8 – 11; Ezekiel 13

Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you. You show steadfast love to thousands, but you repay the guilt of fathers to their children after them, O great and mighty God, whose name is the LORD of hosts, great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the children of man, rewarding each one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds. You have shown signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and to this day in Israel and among all mankind, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day. You brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders, with a strong hand and outstretched arm, and with great terror. And you gave them this land, which you swore to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey.

Jeremiah 32:17-22

These words have inspired song and encouraged many people of God in faithfulness. Truly, they are beautiful, inspired and inspiring truths. The context, however, puts a different light on it. Jeremiah is a man of obedient faith, enduring prison for proclaiming God’s word to a faithless people. Out of his own mouth have come the pronouncements that the Chaldeans would conquer Judah and Jerusalem. He can see the siege works…

And they entered and took possession of it. But they did not obey your voice or walk in your law. They did nothing of all you commanded them to do. Therefore you have made all this disaster come upon them. Behold, the siege mounds have come up to the city to take it, and because of sword and famine and pestilence the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans who are fighting against it. What you spoke has come to pass, and behold, you see it. Yet you, O Lord GOD, have said to me, “Buy the field for money and get witnesses”—though the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans.

Jeremiah 32:23-25

Let me get this straight. Yahweh brought the Hebrews into Canaan and gave families land as an inheritance and laws for redeeming land to keep it in the family. The people turned away from God and as He promised He was punishing them and sending them into exile. All of the land would thereby fall into the hands of the conquering nations. Deeds held by Hebrews would be meaningless. The siege works were could be seen. And, at this precise moment Jeremiah is commanded by God to pay good money to redeem a field from a kinsman. It makes no sense. Unless, the Hebrews would return to the land. That is the message Jeremiah was compelled by God to proclaim to the exiles.

People making wild boasts are often challenged to “put your money where your mouth is…” Words are empty, but money talks. A CEO who tells the world his company is prospering while he sells all of his stock is simply not credible. A prophet of God who buys land that is at this moment being overwhelmed by a foreign army as He transmits God’s promise that they would return to their inheritance has credibility – if folks are willing to listen objectively.

By this time, it simply was no longer about the land. It was simply about the plan of God to bring Messiah, the Lion of Judah, when the time was full. So the man in the dungeon in the king’s house, listening to the invaders prepare for destruction, buys land in front of witnesses. Jeremiah then proclaims the truth …

Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” declares the LORD. Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: “You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the LORD. Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the LORD. “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’ “Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when they shall no longer say, ‘As the LORD lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’ but ‘As the LORD lives who brought up and led the offspring of the house of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them.’ Then they shall dwell in their own land.

Jeremiah 23:1-8

To all of us, money is something of tangible value. It has meaning because of that value. So, when we put our money somewhere, we are invested. Yahweh did not put money on the return of Judah and the blessing to come. He placed something of far greater worth. Himself. He emptied Himself of glory to take on the form of a lowly servant to redeem His possession … people. In Jesus the Christ, God became fully invested in my future. And in your future.

Consider His nature.  Consider His ways.  Strive to love Him more!