"For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear 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 I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile." - Jeremiah 29:10-14
I have heard this passage read, and quoted many times. When it was quoted or read it always focused on the fact that God has plans of welfare (or as some translations say " plans to prosper"). I believe that God does have plans to prosper us, but I think by focusing on this part of the passage we miss the main point. Israel had been disobedient to God, and had put there faith and trust in other things. God punishes Israel by sending them to Babylon to serve a foreign King. Then here we see God reminding his people of his steadfast love and faithfulness. God is sovereign over everything! He is the one who sent Israel to Babylon, and he is the one that will bring them back. So why send them to Babylon? Why do we experience trials, and hard times in life? Well Israel was being punished, and God was teaching them to "Seek Him," and find complete satisfaction in Him! As Christians, we also deserved to be punished. We have and do sin against God daily! But because of Jesus, God forgives our sin and gives us the hope with Jesus' resurrection that he is making all things new, and we will be able to one day worship God without our sinful flesh, the world, or Satan holding us back. So why still trials and hard times for the Christian? Because although Jesus paid for our sin, we still live in a sinful body and a fallen world. And like God did with Israel, He uses that sin and pain to bring us closer to himself. Our sinful nature is constantly causing us to fill our hearts with worship of Idols, including our self. But God in His grace and mercy causes our hearts to be broken of that sinful worship, so that we realize God alone is worthy of worship! So Christian, yes God will prosper you! But remember that our treasure is God! Not earthly treasures! Jesus is the prize! In Him all our hope is found! In Him we have complete peace and satisfaction, and while here we are being sanctified, learning to seek God, obey God, and worship Him! May our lives be marked with obedience to God, and of seeking satisfaction completely in God who is worthy of all praise!
