Jeremiah had prophesied for some time that the Babylonians under the reign of Nebuchadnezzar would conquer all of Judah, including Jerusalem and take all the important people into exile. The Babylonian armies had begun to move through the area and were threatening the final few fortified cities including Jerusalem. Jerusalem would soon be destroyed and all Judah would soon be dominated and ruled by Babylon. This was not a good time for any Jew to invest in property.
Yet God directed Jeremiah to purchase a field from his cousin when it would be offered to him. His cousin came and Jeremiah obediently bought the property because "I knew that this was the word of the Lord; so I bought the field ---." (32:8, 9)
A few verses later, we read a wonderful prayer offered by Jeremiah. (32:17 - 25) You should really turn to this passage now to fully enjoy this. He addresses God with lofty terminology "you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. --- O great and powerful God whose name is the Lord Almighty, great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds." Then he goes on to recite the major event in Israel's history: the miracle of the Exodus, followed years later, by the gift of the land of Palestine. These words could easily be located in the Psalms for they provide a lovely prayer of worship and praise.
Jeremiah then proceeds to the present moment in his life and says, your people have disobeyed and so you have brought this disaster upon them. "See how the siege ramps are built up to take the city. --- What you said has happened as you now see."
When I read the next verse I cannot help but smile. Jeremiah does not complain nor criticize God. He speaks very respectfully. However he strongly implies that God has given very bad investment advice. "And though the city will be handed over to the Babylonians, you O Sovereign Lord, say to me, 'Buy the field with silver and have the transaction witnessed."
Don't you love a moment like this in Scripture? Jeremiah provides a wonderful prayer of lofty worship and appreciation for our Great God. He affirms God's power and might in creation and in history. Yet Jeremiah is still just as concerned about his own personal situation as we are. He cannot help but wonder "What are you doing in my life right now? Why on earth have I just wasted money on an investment in land about to be deserted as we all go into exile"?
God had promised that his people would be brought back to the land in 70 years. And he led Jeremiah to make a purchase of land to demonstrate that God is in control and the prophecies of return from exile will come true. God was working out his purpose in Jeremiah's life.
So in my life, when in the short run things don't seem to make sense, these two contrasting perspectives may be held in tension. "Almighty God, I know you as Creator and the Lord of History. I know you have done great things for your people in the past. You have done great things for me in the past. But God, you see what is going on, and I sure wonder what you are doing right here, right now."
I can smile at the example of Jeremiah, because I can certainly identify with both his faith and his wondering. Can you?
Yet God directed Jeremiah to purchase a field from his cousin when it would be offered to him. His cousin came and Jeremiah obediently bought the property because "I knew that this was the word of the Lord; so I bought the field ---." (32:8, 9)
A few verses later, we read a wonderful prayer offered by Jeremiah. (32:17 - 25) You should really turn to this passage now to fully enjoy this. He addresses God with lofty terminology "you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. --- O great and powerful God whose name is the Lord Almighty, great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds." Then he goes on to recite the major event in Israel's history: the miracle of the Exodus, followed years later, by the gift of the land of Palestine. These words could easily be located in the Psalms for they provide a lovely prayer of worship and praise.
Jeremiah then proceeds to the present moment in his life and says, your people have disobeyed and so you have brought this disaster upon them. "See how the siege ramps are built up to take the city. --- What you said has happened as you now see."
When I read the next verse I cannot help but smile. Jeremiah does not complain nor criticize God. He speaks very respectfully. However he strongly implies that God has given very bad investment advice. "And though the city will be handed over to the Babylonians, you O Sovereign Lord, say to me, 'Buy the field with silver and have the transaction witnessed."
Don't you love a moment like this in Scripture? Jeremiah provides a wonderful prayer of lofty worship and appreciation for our Great God. He affirms God's power and might in creation and in history. Yet Jeremiah is still just as concerned about his own personal situation as we are. He cannot help but wonder "What are you doing in my life right now? Why on earth have I just wasted money on an investment in land about to be deserted as we all go into exile"?
God had promised that his people would be brought back to the land in 70 years. And he led Jeremiah to make a purchase of land to demonstrate that God is in control and the prophecies of return from exile will come true. God was working out his purpose in Jeremiah's life.
So in my life, when in the short run things don't seem to make sense, these two contrasting perspectives may be held in tension. "Almighty God, I know you as Creator and the Lord of History. I know you have done great things for your people in the past. You have done great things for me in the past. But God, you see what is going on, and I sure wonder what you are doing right here, right now."
I can smile at the example of Jeremiah, because I can certainly identify with both his faith and his wondering. Can you?
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