Planning
This is an excerpt from a prophecy out of the book of Jeremiah in the Old Testament. As you may know, Jeremiah was considered one of the major prophets sent to the Jewish kingdom of Judah to prophecy of the pending exile the people would go through due to their sins of disobedience and dishonoring God. Jeremiah’s tenure as prophet to Judah did not only cover the years preceding the time of this exile but also included the initial years of the exile of Judah in the Babylonian empire.
The selected verse, a favorite quoted in Christian circles today, was a promise given to the people who were carried off to Babylon. It seems that some false prophets had risen up and were promoting the idea that the Jews should not get settled down in Babylon. In their opinion this whole exile thing was a very temporary situation. They were “prophesying” falsely in this manner in spite of the fact that God had explicitly outlined, through His true prophets, what would happen even before the Babylonians showed up to fulfill His judgement. So Jeremiah was once again tasked with setting the record straight, and so he did. God speaking through His prophet tells the Jews to “‘Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile” (verses 5-7). It appears that God wanted His people to get the right attitude about the exile. This was not just a brief nuisance in their lives. God wanted to make sure His people understood that it was not going to be all right in the morning. Basically what He wanted them to know is that this exile thing was now their life, the way they would exist and some would even die in it. Get used to it and make the most of it. Even seek to improve the place where you are now exiled.
With an understanding of the context of the promise given in Jeremiah 29:11, isn’t it interesting how this verse is used nowadays. Getting ready to graduate from college? “I know the plans I have for you says the Lord…” Lost your job? “I know the plans I have for you says the Lord…” Church split? “I know the plans I have for you says the Lord…” I wonder. If people understood the full context of the scripture containing the promise, would they still quote it?
Now please don’t get me wrong, I certainly understand that God has a plan for each and every one of us. I also understand that He, as a loving Father, has good plans for us. We don’t have to be the Jews in captivity for God to make plans on our behalf. But, it also should be understood that God’s plan may involve disciplining so that we will live in right relationship with Him. There may be a real long stay in exile so that when we come out into God’s promise we have put Him first in all things and will not get sidetracked by blessing. The plans of God may involve things that we think can’t be in His plan for us. That is the way of God.
God has a plan for you. Regardless of whether you like the plan or not, it is your responsibility to live out His plan. Had the Jews followed the false prophets, and make no mistake they could have, if they would have listened to them instead of following God’s plan it is likely that the exile would have been longer and harder. More people would have died in it and never seen the promise fulfilled. May it not be said of us that we were unwilling to follow God’s plan. Rather, whether through exile or homeland, storm or still waters, wilderness or promise-land, let us be known as those who followed the Lord’s plan.