The Book of Jeremiah consists, basically, of warning after warning! Sermons, word pictures, and events cautioning the little Nation of Judah. God’s “chosen people” who have persisted in sin and rebellion against her Creator and Redeemer.
Yet this is the God who sternly writes … “Behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.” Numbers 32:23
Well, Judah did not listen. In fact, the people tried to kill Jeremiah, God’s man, several times … because he was telling them the truth!
Finally … God put the whole nation “in jail,” in Babylonian “captivity.” For seventy long years!
Yet … and here is the GRACE our Lesson title represents …
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11
God is still thinking of the Jews!
Thoughts of peace!
Not planning evil against them, unlike all the other (false) gods and (false) goddesses of that ancient day. They were filled with revenge, our God with Love!
The words “expected end” suggest that God already knows the “last chapter” in Judah’s/Israel’s eternal Book! (It’s called the Millennium then forevermore in the new heaven and the new earth! With Jesus as their Saviour, Messiah!)
Amazing!
Now … am I writing to someone today, a fellow Believer in Jesus, who is under the disciplining Hand of God? Or (for some reason) going through that “hardest time” of your life? Your world falling apart?
Perhaps deserved, like Judah in Jeremiah’s day. Perhaps undeserved, like Job the great Patriarch. But chaos anyway, either way!
Apply the soothing balm (medicine, ointment) of this verse, our Text today, to your heart and life and situation.
Here it is again … “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
Grace!
No wonder they call it marvelous!
Peter (1 Peter 5:10) even calls our dear Lord “the God of all Grace!”
That’s His Name!
PEACE and not EVIL!
Hallelujah!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
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