Jeremiah 11: Jeremiah buys a field: an act of hope
My grandson upon hearing that his aunts and cousins wouldn’t be coming for Christmas this year had two reactions. “What are we going to do?” and “I hate this covid. How long will it last?” When I told him it probably would be around for another year, he was shocked. When you are seven, a year is a long time. I told him that it seemed that way, but it wasn’t really all that long and that we would get through it and everything would be alright. I believe it will, eventually. But between the covid 19 virus and climate change, that eventually could be a long time off.
Real estate is often seen as a wise investment but I know from experience you can lose money in real estate. As Nebuchadnezzar was invading Jerusalem, Jeremiah decided, from his prison cell, to purchase back a family farm. Jeremiah 32 One might think that was not such a wise move, buying land when a foreign king was in the process of taking possession of the country. Perhaps the price was right but price wasn’t Jeremiah’s concern. He was making a point. “For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land.” (Jeremiah 32:15) Jeremiah wasn’t naïve. He made sure that his deed was well sealed into an earthenware jar to preserve it until it was worth something. He knew it might be some time before that happened. (Remember the Dead Sea Scrolls were sealed in just such jars!) He also sent up a fervent prayer reminding God of the steadfast love promised to Israel. He got a message back that big trouble was coming, but it would not last forever. I am sure that we are in for a time of trouble, of massive disruption and suffering but it won’t last forever and we can make it better or worse for ourselves. Are you willing to bet on the future? Are you willing to act on it?
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