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Trust Doesn't Come Easy
God told Jeremiah to buy a field outside Jerusalem. The city had been under siege for a year, and Jeremiah bought land that the soldiers occupied - certainly a poor investment. In addition, Jeremiah was a prisoner in the palace. But Jeremiah was demonstrating his faith in God's promises to bring his people back and to rebuild Jerusalem.
Trust doesn't come easy. It wasn't easy for Jeremiah to publicly buy land already captured by the enemy. But he trusted God. It wasn't easy for David to believe that he would become king, even after he was anointed. But he trusted God (1Samuel 16 - 31). It wasn't easy for Moses to believe that he and his people would escape Egypt, even after God spoke to him from a burning bush. But he trusted God (Exodus 3:1 - 4:20). It isn't easy for us to believe that God can fulfill his "impossible" promises either, but we must trust him. God, who worked in the lives of Biblical heroes, will work in our lives too, if we will let him.
After Jeremiah bought the field, he began to wonder if such a move was wise. He sought relief in prayer from his nagging doubts. In this prayer, Jeremiah affirmed that God is Creator (Jer 32:17), the wise Judge of all the ways of people (Jer 32:19), and Redeemer (Jer 32:21). God loves us and sees our situation. Whenever we doubt God's wisdom or wonder if it is practical to obey him, we can review what we already know about him. Such thoughts and prayers will quiet our doubts and calm our fears.
God uses his power to accomplish his purposes through his people. God doesn't give you power to be all you want to be, but he gives you power to be all he wants you to be. The people of Israel had to learn that trusting God meant radically realigning their purposes and desires toward him. God gave them "singleness of heart" toward him (Jer 32:39). We must develop that singleness of heart and action to love God above anything else. |
Rev. Telema W. Okobi