Even In Exile

“Then God told me, “This is the message from the God of Israel: the exiles from here that I’ve sent off to the land of Babylon are like good figs; I’ll make sure they get good treatment. I’ll keep my eye on the so that their lives are good and I’ll being them back to the land. I’ll build them up, not tear them down. I’ll plant them, not uproot them. And I’ll give them a heart to know me, God. They’ll be my people and I’ll be their God, for they’ll have returned to me with all their hearts.” (Jeremiah 24:4-7 MSG)

Corporate solidarity is a term that has come across my radar recently. It’s this sense of national or ethnic identity and even moreso, a shared fate. Corporate solidarity meant a family or a nation bore both blessings and curses together; they wore the consequences for one another’s choices.

In the book of Jeremiah, this corporate solidarity meant that the whole nation of Israel went off to exile as a result of their mass apostasy, even though there were likely a few faithful families in their midst. This feels thoroughly unfair to modern readers with a more individualistic world view, but if we look deeper into the text we see that God has made participation in the exile an act of obedience. Some of Israelites were given the option of staying in the city, but they are warned, it will not be pleasant.

The Promised Land had been long-robbed of it’s prescribed rest. Sabbath years had been skipped over and in response God enforced a land rest, allowing the Babylonian invasion and capture. To the few tempted to stay behind, God cautioned; it is better to obey in exile than to stay in defiance. He made it clear, He was moving His people out of the Promised Land for a season. He also let them know, He was ready to re-engage with those who would trust Him even in exile.

So what truths does this text hold for modern-day believers?

Sin still has consequences. Deliberate denial of God’s implicit instruction will yield destruction.

Corporate solidarity still holds true. This may work against us when members of our body sin, but it certainly worked for us on the cross.

Even exile can be redeemed with right attitude. If we set our hearts on knowing God, we’ll experience Him anew.

God isn’t looking for our understanding, but our obedience. We do well when we ask ourselves, “How can I honor Him in whatever is next?”

We always have hope in God. Even in exile, God offered His people a route back to right relationship with Him.

Exile can be a gift. In exile, our opportunities and distractions are reduced, leaving us more prone to full reliance on God.

Ultimately, we see God provide for and protect His people even in a foreign land. And it’s there, in Babylon, where the whole nation learned to love Him in return again. That alone was worth whatever individual cost was involved. Our God is about saving nations, not just a few individuals here and there.

“From the four corners of the earth, people are coming back to their senses. are running back to God. Long lost families are falling on their faces before Him. God has taken charge’ from now on He has the last word.”
(Psalm 22:27-28 MSG)

Thank You Lord, for loving us enough to occasionally dump us from our land of ease into a place where we must rely on You. May we learn from Israel’s exile but also from our own occasional expulsion experiences. Exile presents us with awesome opportunities for obedience. May we embrace those occasions and seek You wholeheartedly amidst every season of our story. We want to honor You no matter what everyone else is doing. Amen.