Jeremiah 32

Again God gives an illustration by which our faith can be strengthened.  The story takes place in the 10th of 11 years of Zedekiah’s reign.  The siege is well under way.  Jeremiah is in confinement.  The LORD instructs him to buy a piece of property in his home town, from one of his cousins, which Jeremiah does.

The difficulty should be obvious.  In another “Ah, Lord God!” passage, he respectfully asks the LORD why he has been told to do such a foolish thing.  Jeremiah has predicted the fall of the city.  Nebuchadnezzar is at the door (v24), ready to make the people and place desolate.  His cousin must have been ecstatic that someone would actually give him good money for worthless property.

At this point, for our own encouragement, re-read vs. 17 and 27.  Jeremiah and God know and say the same thing.  Nothing is too hard for God!  There is a popular chorus these days based in v17.  Nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing! Nothing is too difficult for Thee!  Perhaps we should keep in mind that the man who said those words could recite great things God had done in the past (v18-23), but he struggled to see what God could possibly do in the future.

God also knows Who He is but His knowledge is perfect.  He affirms that, yes, He will judge His people who have turned to Me the back, and not the face (v33).  But He also says He will then restore them.  He will bring them back, not just from Babylon but from all countries where I have driven them in My anger (v37).  They will have the relationship with God that He always desired (v38).  They will have one heart for God and one way of holiness (v39).  They will live in the New Covenant (v40).  And they will be solidly planted in the land (v41).  The day will come when Jeremiah’s property will valuable (v42-44).

Lest we miss what should be obvious, the things God said He would do are yet to be fulfilled.  God brought the people back after 70 years in Babylon, but it was not to the things He promised to the imprisoned prophet.  They were not solidly planted in the land but lived under the rule of various Gentile powers.  They have yet to experience, as a nation, the spiritual blessings.  And we should also note that, though there is a remarkable return to the land in our day, and certainly the trading and selling of property, this nation is still not solidly planted.  There is no prevailing experience of the Jewish people with the New Covenant.

The current state of Israel may be the reason there are so many who, in their theology speak of a God of great power and outstretched hand, and yet who deny the future for promised by God in Jer. 30-33.  Living in the land for 2-3 months at a time as we do, one certainly sees the tendency of most people to follow the dictates of their evil hearts.  One might wonder how they will ever have one heart for God.  But we have the sure word of God.  He will fulfill the intent of His heart for His people.  He will do that which will glorify His name.

Is anything too hard for your God?  Nothing is too hard for the God of Israel!