Following up on yesterday’s devotion, Jeremiah was writing to those already in exile in Babylon. He encouraged them to go on with their lives and be faithful to God, because God would be faithful to them. Then He shared this promise.
Jeremiah 29:10-14 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
Their exile was not open-ended. It would last for 70 years. Their descendants would be brought back to the Promised Land. God had plans for them. He would prosper them, give them hope and a future. He was calling them to remember that they were His chosen people.
Those words would have been comforting to those who had been exiled. While they may not live long enough to return, their descendants would. God would bring their exile to an end. He reminded them that He would remain faithful to His promises.
I would imagine that most of the exiles focused on the promise to go back to their earthly home, which was a big deal. But I doubt the majority of them understood the greater meaning of God’s plans for them. The promise made to Abraham was that through him and his descendants, “all nations on earth will be blessed” (Genesis 26:4). Through God’s chosen people would come the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Redeemer, the Savior of all people. God had plans for His people.
You and I know that Savior has come. We believe He lived and died and rose again to make it possible for us to be forgiven and have the certainty of eternal life. But He did not do that for just a certain group of people. Jesus was not simply the Savior of one nation. He paid the penalty for all people. Everyone. Every single person who has lived or will live. Through His perfect life and His sacrificial death on the cross, Jesus paid it all.
1 John 2:2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
Why else would He have told His followers this:
Matthew 28:19 Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
They were to take this message to ALL NATIONS because His payment for sin and His victory over death was for everyone on earth.
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
The hope and the future we have is that our “exile” will also come to an end. We were not given a specific timetable, but Jesus said He would come back and take His people, those who put their faith in Him, to the place He has prepared for us. That is something to look forward to!
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In case anyone is interested, Cheryl and I will be co-hosting a trip to Greece next year with Donna Snow: Walk in the Footsteps of Paul. The links to the brochure and registration form are below.
https://www.artesianministries.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/10-Day-2023-Greece-Tour-Brochure.pdf
