5 CALLS AND A PROMISE

                                   ‘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.  Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you’ ¹

A verse that has encouraged and challenged many these days. I have seen this message in many groups, forwards, and social media this season. An excellent promise to hold on to, as we go through this long uncertain season.

Reading through the sections of the Bible from where this is taken, I realized this promise given to the Israelites in captivity in Babylon, sits in the context of a few calls and commands to the nation, and the captives. I want to look at the context and high light 5 commands or calls that God was giving them through Jeremiah.

There were two communities to which Jeramiah was bringing God’s message. First, to the leaders and communities that were under siege (lockdown) in Jerusalem hoping for a lifting of the siege in the imminent future. The second was to the captives who were taken away to Babylon and living in the hope of a return soon. They had leaders who were constantly telling them that this context will pass soon.^2,3

Jeremiah, through visual demonstration of a wooden yoke around his neck, and later a picture of an iron yoke, communicated a long term perspective to both the communities. In contrast, the leadership was giving them hopes for a short term challenge and quick reversal soon! ⁴

I want us to consider 5 calls  God was communicating to these communities through Jeremiah.

One – A call to submit to the context. ⁵ The short term thinking of the leadership had to be ignored for a longer-term perspective. They were being asked to submit to the context of a longer-term captivity and a new phase of life.

Two – A call to live fruitful and engaged lives in the present. ⁶ The group that had been taken as captives were waiting ,based on the promises of some of their leaders, to be brought back soon. They were looking back at the past and remembering the past and looking forward to a day when they could return. Jeremiah challenges them to build houses, plant vineyards, marry, have children, and seek the peace and prosperity of their captors and the land where they were. A call to live engaged lives in the current context of where they were.

Three – A call to live prayerful lives. Jeremiah not only asks them to seek the peace and prosperity of the land where they were taken as captives, but to pray for the land, because in the well being of the land was their wellbeing. A call to live prayerful lives for the nation that had destroyed their land, taken them as captives. ⁷

Four – A call to live discerning lives. Jeremiah challenges them to discern between the wisdom of the world and Godly wisdom. Discern between falsehood and truth. ⁸ He was challenging them to understand the context and the season through God’s perspectives and not be caught up with the messages of falsehood going around.

Five – A call to live hopeful lives. The fifth call was one of a hope for the future. Hope of a physical restoration and a spiritual restoration. The physical restoration would take 70 years!⁹ Many of the then generation would not be around to see this restoration become a reality. In one sense they were like those described in Hebrews 11 “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.” ¹⁰ They were to live lives of hope for a future beyond their lives! At the same time, a hope for a spiritual restoration of a relationship with God and His relationship with them ¹⁰

Sandwiched between these calls was the promise , ‘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.  Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you’.

A reminder to us this season, to hold on to the promise of God’s great plans for our lives. At the same time, a call to live lives of submission and fruitful engagement in the present. Lives of prayer for the context and our nations, discerning Gods purposes for us and the nations this season. Holding on to a hope of a physical restoration in His time, but a spiritual restoration today.

May God enable us to live such lives!  

^1. Jeremiah 29:11, ^2. Jeremiah 28;10-11, ^3. Jeremiah 29:15, ^4. Jeremiah 27:2, 28:13, ^5. Jeremiah 27:11, ^6. Jeremiah 29: 4-7, ^7. Jeremiah 29: 7, ^8. Jeremiah 29:8,9, 31,32, ^9. Jeremiah 29: ^10, Hebrews 11:13, ^11. Jeremiah 29: 12,13