"10 For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform MY good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
12 Then shall ye call upon ME, and ye shall go and pray unto ME, and I will hearken unto you.
13 And ye shall seek ME, and find ME, when ye shall search for ME with all your heart."
Jeremiah 29:11 is one of the most quoted verses from the Old Testament. The promise and hope from GOD is what it seems everyone wants to focus on. But so many people are caught up in the health, wealth, and prosperity message that they ignore the verse right before Jeremiah 29:11! In Jeremiah 29:10 scripture records "That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you"! The children of Israel had to experience captivity for "SEVENTY YEARS" before they received the promise and hope from GOD.
I would imagine that the captivity must have not been the most enjoyable for the Israelis. Living under other peoples rules and lifestyles is not something most of us have experienced. Having to do what the Babylonians commanded was the penalty the Israelites were given since they chose to NOT obey The LORD. The hearing of the Israelis had to be adjusted so they would listen to ALMIGHTY GOD!
"Then shall ye call upon ME, and ye shall go and PRAY unto ME, and I will hearken unto you"! The children of Israel had to get their hearts right before GOD would hear them. Their prayers were not productive until their hearts were transformed. GOD desires to do "exceeding abundantly" (Ephesians 3:20) more than we could ever dream for our lives. In order to do those things, we must "search for ME with all your heart." We are mistaken if we think all we need to do is 'holler to Heaven' and HE will provide our whims.
The "SEVENTY YEARS" of Babylonian captivity proved to be brutal and painful for the children of Israel. GOD can let sin hold us captive while HE adjusts our spiritual hearing to listen for (and to) HIM. I pray my spiritual hearing never needs adjusting so badly that it takes me being captive for "SEVENTY YEARS"!
No comments:
Post a Comment