Look, the siege mounds! They have come to the city to take it; and the city has been given into the hand of the Chaldeans who fight against it, because of the sword and famine and pestilence. What You have spoken has happened; there You see it! And You have said to me, O LORD God, “Buy the field for money, and take witnesses”!-yet the city has been given into the hand of the Chaldeans.’ ” Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me? Jeremiah 32: 24-27, NKJV.
Holy God, Great and Mighty are You in all the earth! As we enter the study of Your Word we ask for guidance, we ask for wisdom, we ask for understanding. Above all, we ask for faith to take You at Your Word. In the Name which is above all names, the Name of Jesus Christ the Lord we pray and accept Your blessings. Amen.
Yesterday we saw Jeremiah accepting an offer to buy a field from his cousin, in the courtyard of the prison. A most unlikely place to be sealing a business deal. Yet he bought the field because he knew it was the word of the LORD! What is interesting about this scene is that his actions does not reflect how the prophet really feels. He is obeying the Word not because he understands it, but because God said to do it!
Jeremiah does not share his true feelings with his cousin. His cousin could not change anything even if he had. So he keeps his true feelings for the Only One who can make a difference – the LORD God! Don’t be afraid to say to God, What You are asking me to do does not make sense Lord. He already knows how you feel. I love the way Jeremiah is comfortable talking to God openly and honestly: See for yourself God; the siege is already being put in place. Our enemies are here to do what You said they would do, and yet You have asked me to take witnesses to watch me buy this plot of land, even as they watch the enemy taking over!
What Jeremiah and the witnesses were seeing made no sense at all. From the sound of his words the prophet feels ridiculous. Sometimes as Christians we are made the laughing stock of the world. Paul had to stand between the Jews and the Greeks who thought that his declaration of a crucified Savior was foolishness! It even caused the Jews to stumble! But he stood his ground: “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ!” That “foolish” gospel has transformed more lives than any other book written in the history of the world! What we preach is not always going to make sense to the person who does not know the Savior, but if the Lord says, “Go preach my gospel” – just do it!
And then God spoke and everything made sense. Everything fell into place: “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” You see Jeremiah, your vision is temporal; Mine is eternal. You came into being by My design. I have no designer; I Am the Designer. You wonder what tomorrow will hold, I hold all the tomorrows in My hand! So do not worry if what I tell you now does not make sense to you or to others. One day it will. But for today – just do it!