In the latter days of Zedekiah, King of Judah, the armies of Babylon had besieged Jerusalem and were on the threshold of overtaking the city. Jeremiah, the prophet, had warned the inhabitants of Jerusalem and their leaders that God had delivered his people into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, because they broke his covenant and that they would soon be carried into captivity. For this message, Jeremiah had been “shut up in the court of the prison, which was in the king of Judah’s house” (Jeremiah 32:2).
While he was in prison, the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah saying, “Behold, Hanameel the son of Shallum thine uncle shall come unto thee, saying, Buy thee my field that is in Anatoth: for the right of redemption is thine to buy it” (Jeremiah 32:6-7). It came about according to God’s word that Hanameel came to Jeremiah with the offer and Jeremiah “gave the evidence of the purchase to Baruch…in the sight of Hanameel…and in the presence of the witnesses that subscribed the book of the purchase, before all the Jews that sat in the court of the prison” (Jeremiah 32:12). God then instructed Jeremiah to take the evidences of the purchase and “put them in an earthen vessel, that they may continue many days. For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land” (Jeremiah 32:14-15).
What a scene that must have been and what a promise to lay hold on! The city and its inhabitants are facing imminent destruction from the armies of Nebuchadnezzar following a lengthy siege that left the city impoverished. God himself was the Author of this invasion even as Jeremiah proclaimed. And now, Jeremiah is in prison without the prospect of release. Yet God tells him to buy land from his relative as a testimony that the city will once again be restored and experience the normal course of business.
After purchasing the land as instructed, Jeremiah presents his quandary to the LORD. “The mounts…are come unto the city to take it; and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans, that fight against it, because of the sword, and of the famine, and of the pestilence: and what thou hast spoken is come to pass; and, behold, thou seest it. And thou has said unto me…buy thee the field for money, and take witnesses; for the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans” (Jeremiah 32:24-25).
Jeremiah simply admits that he does not understand how the city shall once again prosper given its present circumstances. In light of Jeremiah’s question, God answers with a question of his own. “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27). He tells Jeremiah that the Chaldeans shall indeed fight against the city and burn it down because of the sins of his people and their idolatry. But he is faithful to his covenant promising “I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell in safety: and they shall by my people, and I will be their God” (Jeremiah 32:37-38).
Child of God, what circumstances are you facing now that seem unlikely to have a favorable outcome of any kind? Take God at his own challenge. “Is there anything too hard for me?” He testified to his people in captivity “I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it” (Ezekiel 36:36). Put your trust in him and let him see you through your challenges.
From the Chaplain 