Plans for a Future
“For I know the plans I have for you…” says the Lord
If you read my most recent blog post, you can understand why
Jeremiah 29:11 hits a little different right now.
As my life has changed so dramatically recently, I am currently quite introspective
about past, present, and future.
This verse is certainly one of the most quoted verses in the Bible
and today I was churning on verse 11 and the surrounding verses,
because as someone who is a huge proponent of considering context
when trying to understand a passage of Scripture
I found myself wondering…
Is it right to apply these verses to myself?
Should I find personal peace and joy in the words Jeremiah penned here?
I found myself feeling a little uncertain,
so I did some studying and want to share my thoughts with you…
First, let me share the specific statements in question,
Jeremiah 29:10-14 says,
For this is what the Lord says: “ When seventy years for Babylon are complete,
I will attend to you and will confirm my promise concerning you to restore you to this place.
For I know the plans I have for you” - this is the Lord’s declaration-
“plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
You will call to me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart.
I will be found by you” - this is the Lord’s declaration-
“and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations
and places where I banished you” - this is the Lord’s declaration.
“I will restore you to the place from which I deported you.(Jeremiah 29:10-14 CSB)
There is so much in these five verses, so settle in ‘cause this will take a minute.
Before going any further, we need to think about who these words were originally for.
These verses are part of a letter that God told Jeremiah to write to the Israelite exiles
who had been deported from Jerusalem to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar (Jer. 29:1-3)
In verse 10, when it says, “when seventy years for Babylon are complete”
God is telling these exiles that they will be in Babylon for 70 years,
and THEN, according to verse 14, God will restore them to their land (i.e. Israel)
And these specific events are historical facts.
They did happen, beginning sometime around 605 B.C.
However,
we as modern day believers, love to take the middle parts of the above passage
and apply them to ourselves
and quote them to each other-
“For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the LORD’s declaration—“plans for your well-being, not for disaster,
to give you a future and a hope.
And
You will call to me and come and pray to me,
and I will listen to you
And
You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart. I will be found by you”—this is the LORD’s declaration—“and I will restore your fortunes
So the question, I’m asking is -
Should we apply these words to ourselves?
Is it accurate or appropriate
for us to do so?
I think it is.
And if you’ll continue reading, I’d like to tell you why.
First, if you will look closely at Jeremiah 29:10-14,
while there are details that are specific to Israel and cannot be applied to you and I.
These verses are much more significantly about God,
and what is said about God, is absolutely still true and applicable for our lives.
Because Scripture is abundantly clear that
the character of our God NEVER changes
(see Malachi 3:6, Psalm 33:11)
But before we look at the right way to interpret and apply this passage,
I want to acknowledge that there are those who would take verses 11 and 14 and
claim them as a promise,
Saying that God intends for his followers to be physically prosperous in this life.
This is a portion of what many would call the “health, wealth gospel”.
The idea is that God wants and intends to bless His children physically
and so - if you ask for wealth, God will give it to you,
and if you are not receiving the physical blessings (the health and wealth) that you desire,
then either your faith is weak or there is some unrepentant sin in your life.
Please hear me say.
That is a FALSE GOSPEL.
That is NOT TRUTH.
It is NOT BIBLICAL.
It sounds good
and feels good,
until you are hit with the harsh reality of this sinful, broken world.
You know - the one we live in!
about which Jesus said,
“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace.
You will have suffering in this world.
Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33)
And Peter said
“Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you,
as if something unusual were happening to you.
Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ,
so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed.”(1 Peter 4:12-13)
And Paul said,
“Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me,
a messenger of Satan to torment me so that I would not exalt myself.
Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it would leave me.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.”
(2 Corinthians 12:7-9)
So let’s be really clear –
Health and wealth are NOT promised in this world.
That is NOT how Jeremiah 29:11 -14 is intended to be interpreted or applied!
However, we (those who have trusted Jesus for salvation) ARE promised
a glorious, pain free, abundant, eternal life in heaven with God.
God does have plans for our well-being.
We have been promised a hope and a future.
It just doesn’t always look exactly as we expect…or even would desire.
But the fact remains:
He is still the God who knows the plans he has for us and
they are plans for a future and a hope.
We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God,
who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:20 CSB)
~See also Romans 5:1-2, Ephesians 2:10 and Psalm 139:13-18~
He is still the God who listens to our prayers and
He will be found when He is sought.
So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find Knock, and the door will be opened to you For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. (Luke 11:9-10 CSB)
~See also Luke 11:11-13, 1 Kings 18:20-45 (especially verses 25-29)~
And remember,
Israel’s history is meant to help us understand and
see the fuller picture of the history of mankind
- our history –
the story of our rebellion and more importantly
of God’s ultimate and complete rescue and restoration through Jesus.
While we should not expect restoration and physical abundance here on earth
(though in God’s generosity and mercy He does often provide us
with wonderful blessings in this life).
We can, and should, and MUST look forward to our eternal restoration and abundance.
You see, we can find hope and peace in the reality that
our God has had it all figured out from the very beginning.
He made us and He has a plan and purpose for us!
He is NOT difficult to find and it is NOT hard to get his attention!
When we cry out to our good, Sovereign God, we can be confident that he hears and cares.
Now, the hard reality is that sometimes his good plan, doesn’t feel good to us.
I’m certain seventy years of exile in Babylon, did not feel good to Israel.
But while suffering is part of living in a sinful world,
it’s also often how God draws, grows, and shapes us into His image.
And one day, those of us who have placed our faith in Jesus’ sacrifice,
will stand before the throne of our mighty God and understand fully
the perfect, eternal good,
the complete well-being,
the hope and the future
that we have been waiting for, was well worth the wait!
