Hebraic Musing – What Might God’s Plan Be for Us?
How
many times have you heard someone confidently proclaim that good things are in
store for them? And their proof verse is
the LORD’s declaration in Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you,
plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
NIV And the next verse, 12, also sounds
good. “Then you will call upon me and
come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” BUT they stop there expecting a blessing
right around the corner.
So it sounds
like good verses to rely on; BUT what does it mean in context? Verse 10 before it 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.” Uh Oh!
Fulfillment of the Lord’s plan does not go into effect until 70 years
from now!!! Keep reading verses 12-14. “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.” That
was certainly not the “Plan” Jeremiah or any of us are hoping for!
A
little later, Jeremiah needed to talk to the LORD, so the LORD God provided
Jeremiah with His phone number. “Call
to me and I will answer you
and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” So Jeremiah
33:3 is God’s phone number. Call Him,
He’s waiting for your call.
The
Lord had early plans for Jeremiah. Might
He also have plans for you? “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the
nations.” Jeremiah 1:5
Isaiah 6:8 contains another favorite Biblical statement that we might glibly spout without full understanding. “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” What did Isaiah agree to? He had to go and remind the people they had calloused hearts and dull ears, etc. When Isaiah asked “For how long, O Lord?” the Lord answered “Until the cities lie ruined and without inhabitant, until the houses are left deserted and the fields ruined and ravaged, until the LORD has sent everyone far away and the land is utterly forsaken.” Jer.6:11-12 That was a challenging message to have to deliver to the people; not good news!
Esther had to make a difficult
decision; her Uncle Mordecai encouraged her with “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the
Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will
perish. And who knows but that you have come
to royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14
When we
ask the Lord to use us, are we ready to do the heavy lifting? To say the challenging words? To reveal to them the bad news? To tell people what they do not want to hear?
What price might we have to pay in order to be the Lord’s messenger?
How
important is it to read “good sounding promises” in context?
And
let’s not forget that we are more than conquerors. “And we
know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have
been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
Points to ponder
Will God’s plan(s) always be welcome in our short term
way of thinking?
Does it take faith to give God’s ultimate plan time to
work itself out?
The Loving Creator God of the whole universe wants us
to call on Him,
He wants to talk with us as often as we want!
What a privilege!
Call on Him, He’s waiting for your call.
♫ “What a Friend
we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!.” ♫
Yosef a.k.a. Joe Brusherd
October
12, 2021
Author: “Hebraic
Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)” Weekly
“Hebraic Musings” InsightsByYosef.blogspot.com/
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