Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 32–34
A big part of Jeremiah’s message to the people of Judah was that there was HOPE FOR THEIR FUTURE. Jeremiah wanted the people to know they could trust God and that this return to Jerusalem someday was possible because nothing was too difficult for God. What a great message to sweeten the bitterness of my morning coffee.
God told Jeremiah to buy a piece of land that Jeremiah’s cousin was going to ask him to purchase from him. He wanted Jeremiah to do this in order to show the people that he trusted God and fully believed the Promised Land would once again be theirs. As you can imagine, for anyone to purchase land at this point in the battle would appear very foolish yet what Jeremiah was doing was MAKING AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE THAT GOD WAS PROMISING – that’s how much he trusted his God!
DO WE TRUST GOD THAT MUCH?
“O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and the earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!… You have all wisdom and do great and mighty miracles… You have made your name famous to this day. You brought Israel out of Egypt with mighty signs and wonders, with a strong hand and powerful arm, and with overwhelming terror. You gave the people of Israel this land that you had promised their ancestors long before – a land flowing with milk and honey.
Our ancestors came and conquered it and lived in it, but they refused to obey you or follow your word. They have not done anything you commanded. That is why you have sent this terrible disaster upon them…Everything has happened just as you said. And yet, O Sovereign Lord, you have told me to buy the field – paying good money for it before these witnesses — even though the city will soon be handed over to the Babylonians.” – Jeremiah 32:17-25
This sounds like a conversation we might have with God at times. We boldly point out to God how ridiculous it is that He would ask us to do ______________________when we are in the midst of ___________________. Go ahead and fill in the blanks for how that applies to your life right now. God is calling us to trust in His promises, just as He wanted Jeremiah to show his trust in his God.
Then the message came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “I am the Lord, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?” – Jeremiah 32:26
TRUST IN GOD, WHO CAN DO ANYTHING!
This is the same question God asked Sarah when she struggled to believe in His promise that she would bear children, even at her age (Genesis 18:14). She quickly learned that God can be trusted to keep His promise.
Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. — Hebrews 10:23
And this is what God was promising His people at this time as they were gathering everything they could from within the city of Jerusalem to strengthen the walls against the siege ramps, trying hard to fight the Babylonians and resist captivity:
“Nevertheless, the time will come when I will heal Jerusalem’s wounds and give it prosperity and true peace. I will restore the fortunes of Judah and Israel and rebuild their towns. I will cleanse them of their sins against me and forgive all their sins of rebellions. Then this city will bring me joy, glory and honor before all the nations of the earth! The people of the world will see all the good I do for my people, and they will tremble with awe at the peace and prosperity I provide for them.” – Jeremiah 33:6-9
ENTER INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD AND TRUST HIM.
What battle are you fighting right now? I pray you are reminded this morning that we serve a God who heals, restores, rebuilds, cleanses and forgives. I encourage you to enter into the presence of your God and trust that nothing is too hard for Him!
What is God asking you to do today to show that you trust Him, regardless of the circumstances in your life? Enter into the presence of your God and listen closely with a heart willing to obey.
What is your answer to God when He asks, “Is anything too hard for me?” Enter into the presence of your God and seek the answer to that question.
Nothing is too hard for our God. He wants us to enter into His presence, trust in His promises and give Him every situation we are facing. He wants us to remember how He conquered death and believe in His power to conquer anything. Let’s go to Him with sincere hearts, fully trusting in our great and mighty God.
By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, LET US GO RIGHT INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD with sincere hearts fully trusting him. – Hebrews 10:20-22a