Broken, God's way! Jeremiah #15.2
How God desires a genuine connection, and our role in making it happen
Inspired by Jeremiah Chapter 23 and 24
Hi guys, welcome to new subscribers, thank you for being here as we explore the books of the Bible in context. As always please read the chapters before and/after reading this post, as I am sure The Author will speak to you in a special way as you do.
QUICK RECAP
There is nothing good on the immediate horizon for the people of Judah, Jeremiah has told them to expect nothing short of deportation to Babylon. Aaargh!!!
FALSE VERSUS TRUE
THE FALSE PROPHETS (You’ll be fine, things will be ok, don’t worry)
Last time we saw the difference between Hope from God, and men’s optimism. A point that I can’t overemphasize comes out in chapter 23: God says that false comfort (an optimism that also dresses down the real truth) keeps the hearer stuck in their wicked ways. In effect, this approach encourages self-centered attitudes rather than God centered attitudes, in order to cope with tough times.
“But if they (the false prophets giving false words of comfort) had stood in My (The Lord’s) counsel, And had caused My people to hear My words, Then they would have turned them from their evil ways, And from the evil of their doings.”
THE TRUE PROPHET(S) - My Word will break you, allow yourself to be broken
Jeremiah’s honesty, telling the people of Judah they were going to be exiled and their city destroyed, was in fact preparing them to see the evil of their ways (remember that biblical wickedness is doing what we want rather than what God wants) and turn away from them. It was bringing them to accept Gods words over their lives, accept the consequences of their choices, and help them to find a way back home through the hardships. Yes, you heard me, they’ll get back home!
GOD WANTS TRUE CONNECTION
The fact is that if we know God, we will naturally delight in Him, and praise Him. Sort of like if we know of a good picnic spot near a waterfall, we will surely delight in it, and bring others to enjoy it too. In tough times, we will come back to that picnic spot, a refuge and shelter for us to make sense of a turbulent world.
In Chapter 24, (and this is amazing, because through the whole experience of exile), God is teaching His people to own their decisions, which includes taking ownership of the consequences. (Every parent knows the value of this for their children, even if we haven’t quite got their ourselves).
God desires that through it all the people will wholeheartedly come back to Him: He says he will “give them a heart to know Me, that I am the LORD; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart.”
What better relationship? When with the power of choice, you choose your spouse with all your heart, time, and time, and time again.
So in the midst of unavoidable tragedy, God wants to connect in a genuine way with His people. This is good news for those of us who are going through trials, persecution, even tragedy … may this encourage us to hold onto the Hope of God to transform us. God has not forgotten us, but wants to teach, and bring us to grow from glory to glory, as we behold Him.
“Oh to have God’s mindset through our falls and failures!!” To accept His discipline that lifts us up again to a new life, empowering us to make better choices, and shining His light all the more. And so we come to the figs:
RIPE and ROTTEN
Two types of People - Two Baskets of Figs
Jeremiah’s vision of a basket of good figs and a basket of rotten figs speaks to those who would be, and were exiled into Babylon. These are the good figs, those accepting to be broken by the hammer of God’s word, and thus finding the hope that “All things work for the good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.”Romans 8
Even amidst the darkest of times, what a beautiful comfort is the flame of hope brought by God Himself!
Secondly, were those who chose to stay in Jerusalem, or go to Egypt, both options being contrary to Jeremiah’s advice to surrender to the Babylonians (advice that would brand him a traitor). These were likened to the rotten figs: Who steadfastly refused to accept God’s dealings in their life, who made their own plans with no acknowledgement of the sin that seized their hearts.
We know that through military strategy (to prevent further uprising and keep morale low) the first exile took the royalty and the cream of Judah’s society. Yet other expulsions occurred, taking many ordinary citizens to Babylon. In the end Jerusalem and it’s temple was burned to the ground. 70 years later the good figs would come back home, as prophesied by Jeremiah.
REFLECTIONS
Today’s rhetoric in tough times is rarely to see things God’s way, more often than not today’s advice is to run from the things, and the people, that don’t fit our mindset and plans. Run from, cut off, no contact, draw boundaries … whatever the terminology — This attitude is depriving so many of the opportunity to grow and have genuine relationships, with real connection. My mind cannot help think of children, parents, husbands and wives, families: That have such a beautiful place in the plan of God.
May we hold onto the Hope of God for us even through the difficult times. And I pray that we might be those who draw near to Him, with faith that He will work SO MUCH GOOD in and through us, as we face our situations God’s way.
Thank you for being here. Keep going.
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May the Lord bless you
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Thank you.
I'm sucked for history. Great article! Good word! Thank you.
Encouraged by this study, Jonathan!