Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 43-52; 2 Kings 24-25; 2 Chronicles 36
A big part of Jeremiah’s message to the people of Judah – both those already in exile as well as those still fighting or not yet taken into captivity – was that there was HOPE FOR THEIR FUTURE. God had promised He would bring them back to their land in 70 years. Jeremiah wanted the people to know they could trust God and that this return to Jerusalem someday was possible because nothing was too difficult for God. What a great message for me to hear today and to enjoy in my morning coffee.
God told Jeremiah to buy a piece of land that Jeremiah’s cousin was going to ask him to purchase from him. He wanted Jeremiah to do this in order to show the people that he trusted God and fully believed the Promised Land would once again be theirs. As you can imagine, for anyone to purchase land at this point in the battle would appear very foolish yet what Jeremiah was doing was MAKING AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE GOD WAS PROMISING – that’s how much he trusted his God! Do we trust God that much?
“O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and the earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!…
You have all wisdom and do great and mighty miracles…
You performed miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt – things still remembered to this day! And you continued to do great miracles in Israel and all around the world. You have made your name famous to this day. You brought Israel out of Egypt with mighty signs and wonders, with a strong hand and powerful arm, and with overwhelming terror. You gave the people of Israel this land that you had promised their ancestors long before – a land flowing with milk and honey.
Our ancestors came and conquered it and lived in it, but they refused to obey you or follow your word. They have not done anything you commanded. That is why you have sent this terrible disaster upon them. See how the siege ramps have been built against the city walls! Through war, famine, and disease, the city will be handed over to the Babylonians, who will conquer it. Everything has happened just as you said. AND YET, O Sovereign Lord, you have told me to buy the field – paying good money for it before these witnesses – even though the city will soon be handed over to the Babylonians.” – Jeremiah 32:17-25
This sounds like a conversation we might have with God at times, pointing out to God how ridiculous it is that He would ask us to do ______________________when we are in the midst of ___________________ (fill in the blanks for how that applies to your life right now). God calls us to trust in His promises, just as He wanted Jeremiah to show his trust in God.
Then the message came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “I am the Lord, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?” – Jeremiah 32:26
This is the same question God asked Sarah when she struggled to believe in His promise that she would bear children, even at her age (Genesis 18:14). She quickly learned that God can be trusted to keep His promise.
Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. – Hebrews 10:23
And this is what God was promising His people at this time as they were gathering everything they could from within the city of Jerusalem to strengthen the walls against the siege ramps, trying hard to fight the Babylonians and resist captivity:
“Nevertheless, the time will come when I will heal Jerusalem’s wounds and give it prosperity and true peace. I will restore the fortunes of Judah and Israel and rebuild their towns. I will cleanse them of their sins against me and forgive all their sins of rebellions. Then this city will bring me joy, glory and honor before all the nations of the earth! The people of the world will see all the good I do for my people, and they will tremble with awe at the peace and prosperity I provide for them. ” – Jer. 33:6-9
What battle are you fighting right now that you need to hear God’s promises that He will heal…restore…rebuild…cleanse…and forgive?
Enter into the presence of your God and trust that nothing is too hard for Him!
What might God be asking you to do today to show you trust Him, regardless of the circumstances in your life?
Enter into the presence of your God and listen closely with a heart willing to obey.
What is your answer to God when He asks, “Is anything too hard for me?”
Enter into the presence of your God and seek the answer to that question.
Do you remember the old Hillsong chorus we used to sing in church all the time?
“Nothing is too difficult for Thee,
Nothing is too difficult for Thee;
O, great and mighty God,
Great in power and mighty in deed,
Nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing,
Nothing is too difficult for Thee” – [Ah Lord God, Kay Chance]
Nothing is too hard for our God. He wants us to enter into His presence, trusting in His promises, and give Him every situation we are facing. He wants us to remember how He conquered death and believe in His power to conquer anything. Let’s go to Him with sincere hearts, fully trusting in our Great and Mighty God.
By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, LET US GO RIGHT INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD with sincere hearts fully trusting him. – Hebrews 10:20-22a