“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
The Lord knows. What precious reassurance for every Believer that our promise-making God is also a promise-keeping God. There is not a single promise that God makes that He cannot and does not keep.
Let’s take a moment to look at Jeremiah 29:11. In its primary context, the ‘you’ is referring to Israel. As previous verses reveal, the Lord is reminding His people that their exile in Babylon would last 70 years, BUT His plan is for them to have a future and a hope according to the promise in His Word. This hope was their return to the city they had left – Jerusalem. It was always God’s plan and purpose for His people to be back in the land covenanted to them. Furthermore, their return would be accompanied by a spiritual revival in which Israel would seek God with their hearts and find Him. What a faithful God; faithful to keep His promise and faithful to hear those that call upon Him.
“For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.” Jeremiah 29:10-14
It is no wonder these beautiful words towards a captive Israel have brought much hope to many a believer. Because the same God who watches over Israel also watches over us. If God was to break His promise to Israel, then why would He keep a promise to us? Instead our future and our hope rests in Almighty God and in the completed work of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is faithful to hear us. Are we searching Him with all our hearts? Are we calling upon the One who has thoughts of peace and not of evil? The One whom has good in store for us? The One who promises to set the captives free?
Today, if we perhaps feel a sense of having strayed in our relationship with God, remember that He is eager for you to return to Him, waiting for you to turn back. Trust in the Promiser.
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” James 4:8a
Book your place: On 13 October 2018, CUFI will be in Coventry, West Midlands.Click here for more information
- Pray for the family of Ari Fuld, the father of four Israeli-American and pro-Israel advocate who was murdered last week by a Palestinian terrorist.
- Pray for his wife Miriam, and their children, Tamar, 22, Naomi, 21, Yakir, 17, and Natan 12.
- Pray that Ari’s legacy of standing for Israel and defending the truth will continue to inspire.
- Pray for the UN Security Council to be held this week. Pray particularly for Prime Minister Netanyahu ahead of his speech to the Council. Pray for his meetings with world leaders, including President Trump.
- Pray for wisdom for leaders of the IDF especially following confusion over the downing of a Russian military aircraft by Syrian forces last week. Pray for stability in the region.
- Pray for CUFI UK’s latest campaign pressuring the BBC to stop its bias against Israel.
- Pray for blessing upon Israel this Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles), which is from 23 September to 30 September.
