Jeremiah does something interesting in today’s reading: he buys land! Jeremiah said, “The word of the LORD came to me: Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle will come to you and say, ‘Buy my field that is at Anathoth, for the right of redemption by purchase is yours.’… And I bought the field at Anathoth from Hanamel my cousin, and weighed out the money to him, seventeen shekels of silver. (Jeremiah 32:6-7, 9, ESV)
A Strange Land Purchase
Why is Jeremiah buying land? On paper, this looks ridiculous. Jeremiah is imprisoned in the courtyard of the guard in the royal palace. King Zedekiah didn’t like what Jeremiah said about him (Jeremiah 32:3–5). Also, Babylon has put Jerusalem under siege; it is only a matter of time before Jerusalem falls (Jeremiah 32:2, 33:5). As we have read, Judah will be carried into exile for their disobedience to God. So, if it is all over, why is Jeremiah buying land at the last minute for a respectable amount?
Acting on the Promise of God
God told Jeremiah to buy this land, even though he was in prison and Babylon was about to take the city and carry everyone off into captivity. Why did God tell him to do this?
I charged Baruch in their presence, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Take these deeds, both this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware vessel, that they may last for a long time. For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land.’ (Jeremiah 32:13–15, ESV)
Jeremiah illustrates to the people that though it will be a long time (seventy years), God has promised to bring them back. Jeremiah, by faith, is purchasing a piece of that future. Wow!
Faith Goes Beyond Reason
Because of God’s promise and because God is trustworthy, Jeremiah’s faith and resulting obedience go beyond reason yet are not unreasonable. That is faith! It goes beyond reason, beyond how it looks on paper, but it is not unreasonable when God is the object of our faith. Jeremiah is undoubtedly in the midst of a trial, and it is often in the middle of trials that our faith is tested, yet for Jeremiah and us, faith has hope! It is a hope in the Word of God, and specifically, God’s promises to us in His Word. God had promised Jeremiah that He would bring His people back to their land. Jeremiah, by faith, bought a piece of that future.
Promises, Hope, and the Future
Believers, regardless of the trials in which we may find ourselves, our faith is rooted in the most trustworthy object of all, God himself. He has given us exceeding great and precious promises. Therefore, our faith has hope, hope in God’s promises. Let’s buy a piece of that future that God has in store for those who walk uprightly! Though the world may think it looks ridiculous on paper, let’s walk through the present by faith with our eyes on the future, for the promises of God are many and great!
Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Jeremiah 32-34.