“This is God’s word on the subject: as soon as Babylon’s seventy years are up and not a day before, I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I am doing. I have it all planned out – plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plan to give you
the future you hope for.” (Jeremiah 29:10-11 MSG)
Even in Babylon, we are not abandoned.
Israel was facing the full consequences for their sin: expulsion form the Promised Land. The Temple had been sacked. All the sacred furnishings had been ferret-ed away a foreign king. It had to feel as though all was lost, yet God was speaking through His prophet Jeremiah: “I know what I am doing! I will not abandon you!”
Someone needs to hear that today. You feel like life has gone off the rails. Things don’t seem to be working out. Your plans have been dashed and you might wonder where God is in all this. Just take a deep breath and remember, He’s still on the throne. He knows what He’s doing. Even in Babylon, in the full-term birth of His people’s sin, God has a plan and it’s a good one.
Lock eyes with our God today. Flip quick through the pages of history (corporate and personal alike) and see again that He is faithful. He’s here, in the midst of whatever feels all wrong right now. He’s good. He’s trustworthy and He’s a redeemer. Speak aloud your confidence in His ability to set it all right again.
“When you come looking for Me, you’ll find Me. Yes, when you get serious about finding Me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed. God’s decree. I’ll turn things around for you. I’ll bring you back from all the countries into which I drove you” – God’s decree-” bring you back to the place from which I sent you off into exile. You can count on it.” (Jeremiah 29:13-14 MSG)
Lord, we recognize that this post-garden world is our exile. We were never meant to live here, awash in the debris of sin. But just as the Israelites were able to build houses and plant gardens and thrive in Babylon, so may we. You are omniscient, meaning if we seek You first, we can enjoy Your presence anywhere, even in the throes of a fallen world. We look for You today, with full confidence in Your good nature and Your good plans. Have Your way with us
as we surrender to Your agenda. Amen.