LEARNING DAILY

 

Jeremiah 32:17, Ah, Lord God!  Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm.  There is nothing too great for You.

 

Let me give some background to this statement by the prophet Jeremiah.  Jeremiah had been put in prison by King Zedekiah because he had been advising surrender to the Babylonian army.  which had surrounded the city.  It is important to understand that Jeremiah knew he was proclaiming the word of the Lord.  Zedekiah believed that Jeremiah’s preaching was having a negative effect on the people.  While in prison, Jeremiah was told by the Lord to buy a field in Anathoth.  This must have sounded crazy because this village was already controlled by Babylon.  However, this purchase of land by Jeremiah would be a statement of faith in God’s promise that a remnant of people would return to the land and buy land and build houses (verse 15).  Buying the land would be a prophetic sign of hope, in the midst of the bad circumstances they were in.

 

There is encouragement for us in this event.  When facing situations that seem hopeless and even desperate, those who belong to God have the promise and hope of a better future.  Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

 

What the Lord told Jeremiah to do must have made Jeremiah wonder because it seems to be almost irrational.  He did what most of us would do or should do, Jeremiah prayed for understanding and strength in his faith.  In the verses following this statement Jeremiah reminds himself of all the great things God has done for Israel.  Just reminding himself of the mighty things God has done for His people helped him to do what God had told him to do, even when the full understanding was not clear.  God was assuring him that the people of Israel would return from captivity; the Lord was encouraging Jeremiah to pray with the promise He would do great and mighty things in the future.  God gives us promises in His Word that we might not understand; He wants His people to speak these promises through prayer so He can answer them.  “There is nothing too great for You.” 

 

“There is nothing too great for You.”  Let those six words sink in for a moment.  If God can create the heavens and earth by speaking them into existence, is there any reason to doubt that He is in control of everything – everything!  Is it not enough to rest in that?  When I do not understand situations I face or things that I see in the news, why do I not consider that God sees them as well.  When the Bible states that God puts kings into and takes them out of power, why do I worry about elections?  Is God taken by surprise?  No!  What about His plans for this country? The world?  Jeremiah is in prison when Jerusalem is surrounded by the enemy, and the people are to about to be taken captive and God tells him to buy land.  In our situation, Believers are to place their faith in Him, to trust Him, and to see His glory. 

 

“There is nothing too great for You.” 

 

 

“For this man who needs amazing kind of grace

For forgiveness and a price I couldn’t pay

I’m not perfect so I thank God every day

There was Jesus

There was Jesus!”   Zack Williams

 

Even when I can’t feel it You’re working

You never stop working!    Michael W. Smith

 

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