Jeremiah 29

From Israel to Babylon

The wilderness. Throughout the bible and even in our own lives we see God send people to a wilderness season. He uses this time to filter our hearts, souls, and minds so that we may be fully turned to Him. Think about it: the Israelites travelling through the wilderness after being delivered from Egypt headed to the Promised Land, David constantly fleeing from Saul for about 13 years, Paul in Arabia after encountering Jesus, etc. We need to accept it; wilderness seasons are crucial for the maturing of our faith. As James the brother of Jesus said, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing (James 1:2-4 NKJV)."

Easier said than done. After all, a lot was going on with God's chosen people during the time. To name some there was public pagan idolatry in the temples, social injustice + oppression, a great moral decay, and of course pride. The children of Israel were in for some serious cleansing. And if we're honest with ourselves, as we keep getting closer to the Light of life (light exposes all that it comes into contact with), we can spot the impurities, distractions, and idols of our own lives. Yes, this seems impossible to accomplish by ourselves, but God. We cannot waiver on the truth that God is in control of it all. If He is God of the mountain top, then is He not God of the valley? Do you not remember what the man who was after God's own heart was able to proclaim? "If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me (Psalms 139:9-10 NKJV)." In the beginning of this letter, God starts off with verse 4, "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,"

Yes, people were carried away captive by Babylon. Killed by the sword. Buildings destroyed left and right. Everything that can go wrong is doing so and more. But God. You can feel this very same way in your body right now. The health report is haywire. Finances are desolate. Loneliness louder than ever. Hope is nowhere to be found. That sin crept up on you again. But God... is in control. Always.

We're Here, Now What?

Not every wilderness season is the same, so rules may vary. If what God is telling the people doesn't apply to you, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the connecting universal principles found throughout biblical wilderness accounts. If it does apply to you, remember God is with you.

Jeremiah 29:5-6 can be encapsulated by the statement: be fruitful and multiply. Take it in. God's children were taken captive by Babylon, yet God is telling them to build houses, plant gardens, start families. God has given them dominion in this gentile city to be fruitful and multiply. In this place of suffering, God is using it for your growth. If you only focus on your surroundings, on the suffering, you will get stuck in despair. Mind you God isn't saying you can't process this transition, grieve the old, or be negligent of what's going on. Just don't stay there, He wants to do something with you. In verse 6 God doubles down on this claim by stating, "... that you may be increased there, and not diminished." Remember how big the population of Israel was first entering Egypt? 70 people. When they left Egypt? Over 600,000 men. Including women and children, approximately 2 million. Stay grounded in Him, and He will do the growing.

I wish that was all. Whether new to the faith or seasoned, we can be empathetic how hard it can be to stay planted in the midst of suffering. But God also wanted the people to pray for Babylon. Maybe even play a part in its peace. The same people who took their land, killed family members, and who knows how poorly treated them as slaves. As hard as this is, it's gospel. "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you... (Matthew 5:44NKJV)" How powerful of a testimony for someone to see the children of Israel get enslaved to then seeking the peace of their captors. That boss that never understands, those family members that always come with the drama, or the friend that always brings up "how you used to be." God wants them healed, prayed for, and brought to Him. And you get to be a partner through it all.

Remember:

• "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15 NKJV)."

• "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you (John 14:26 NKJV)."

• "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13 NKJV)."

Jesus knows the pain you experienced. He felt it with you. He knows how impossible of a task this seems to be for you. To be under the pressure the world is imposing, so you can run to comfortability. To be vulnerable of those persecuting you. To not want to trust God when you can't see what He's doing. He will help you.

False prophets during Jeremiah's time tried deceiving the people by telling them not to follow the previously stated because salvation is coming fast, so don't waste your time building these homes or caring about Babylonians. God tells the people starting at verse 10 how He will deliver them in 70 years, and that's exactly what He did. If God tells you a timeline of how long the suffering will last, great. If He doesn't, just know however long it is, it's a perfect time for your perfection. Both scenarios require faith and total dependence on Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Not only to survive but thrive. If you strayed from the path, ask for guidance back to what God has originally called you to do in this season. If it all seems to be too much, ask for God's strength to take over. If you have nothing left, that's a beautiful place to be. Empty vessels are meant to be filled. Stay available for what God wants to do in you.

Alpha and Omega

Don't let what's happening now cause you to make decisions affecting who you will be. God knows the beginning and end. As much as that last season was great or how daunting this new one seems, this is the place where He has you. The temple was in Jerusalem, where God's Spirit dwelled. The people get carried away from their home which equals disconnection from God's Spirit. But how does the book of Ezekiel start? The priest Ezekiel already captured by Babylon sitting next to a river, sees the heavens open up and visions from God. Goes on to say, "... and the hand of the LORD was upon him there (Ezekiel 1:3)." Safe to say God's Spirit wasn't restricted to the temple? If you know the book of Ezekiel, what's one of the more famous prophecies of his ministry? The destruction of the temple. Even safer to say God's Spirit can't be constrained to a temple. Where the Spirit goes, we must follow. If I move heaven and earth to keep me in the same season, but the Spirit is moving as I stay, what would that do? This transition is actually keeping me connected. The sustaining in the suffering is proof of the connection.

God knows the beginning and end of your journey. He is trustworthy. When you get the wilderness weariness, remember the promise He gives to us:

"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. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive (Jeremiah 29:11-14 NKJV)."

Stay blessed. Stay connected.