Christian Living
Have you ever heard of times when a family member plans and executes his or her own kidnap? Sometimes done to extort a rich family member considered stingy, or resulting at other times, from excessive greed, envy and selfishness.
This was not exactly the case in Babylon. As one reads parts of the Book of Jeremiah, it would seem that God was intentional about Israel being taken captive to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar. For example, Jeremiah 29:4 says;
“Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon”
Jeremiah 29:4 NKJV
But Israel didn’t enjoy being held captive. Being in captivity is not like being in paradise.
Captives are often held and confined to a location against their will. They are often treated as prisoners or slaves.
A time of captivity is not a time to amass wealth. It is certainly not a time for marriage ceremonies, baby showers, or baby christening. For one, a captive is more likely to be hatching an escape plan than indulge in such social exigencies. Two, you really don’t want to offend or threaten your captors else they give you more hell.
God’s command therefore in Jeremiah 29, seems kind of inappropriate.
“Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters—that you may be increased there, and not diminished.“
Jeremiah 29:5-6 NKJV
Hmmm….
Israel didn’t seem to be in the right location, place or time to execute this command. A preferred and soothing letter from God would read something like …..Behold I am coming for you tonight….and…
“Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.”
Acts 16:26 NKJV
Personally, that is the kind of letter I would expect. But God is not man, He knows all things, He sees the end of a matter from the beginning. And as we see further down in Jeremiah 29 verse 11, Israel’s present situation didn’t bother God. Everything was working according to His divine plan.
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord , thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.“
Jeremiah 29:11 NKJVhttps://bible.com/bible/114/jer.29.11.NKJV
It may not have looked good to onlookers, no it didn’t. If God was indeed Israel’s God as they often boasted, then Israel shouldn’t be in captivity. And that is probably why God warned Israel ahead of misplaced prophecies, selfish divination, and wishful dreams…
“For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are in your midst deceive you, nor listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed.”
Jeremiah 29:8 NKJV
I don’t believe the prophets meant any harm, infact they themselves also wanted an escape plan….they were also caught in this confinement. In addition, they wanted to make sense of the events unfolding before them and provide hope and direction to the people. That’s their office. But they didn’t know the Big picture. They weren’t seeing God’s plan.
Oh! Oh!! Oh!!! I love God. Israel was going through an appointed time, appointed by God Himself alone….these weren’t wasted years…..
“For thus says the Lord : After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place.“
Jeremiah 29:10 NKJV
Friend, are you Israel? Has God called you His Own? Has He given you a mandate? Has He made you a promise which doesn’t seem yet fulfilled? What are you going to do about it? ….
Trust God. Walk with God. Listen to God. Follow God. Wait on God.
The only One who knows your future is God. He has the master plan and He is committed to it as long as you stay in Him. Not one word, not one promise of God goes unfulfilled.
And while you wait, don’t be idle, be busy according to God’s plan and purpose…..
Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters—that you may be increased there, and not diminished.“
Jeremiah 29:5-6 NKJV
No, you are not in a state of dormancy, no, you are not a failure, ….you are going through a process of increase. Trust God!!!
For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.
Habakkuk 2:3 NKJV
I love You Father ❤
