"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for peace and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 ESV
I hear Jeremiah 29:11 quoted a lot. The NIV version is most popular, instead of "peace...not evil" it says, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you." And I think it is important to know that while God was talking to His people during a specific time when this was written, He is also talking to us today. I believe because we know God's Word is speaking to us, present tense, that it is also important for us to understand the context in which He was saying these things. It is good for us to memorize scripture to use in the spiritual warfare we are battling every day of our earthly lives, but that scripture will be a more powerful weapon against our enemy if we understand the context behind it. Believe me when I tell you that Satan knows God's Word way better than we ever will - and he one hundred percent will try to twist it to lead us astray.
I have been reading the Book of Jeremiah over the past few weeks. Yesterday I read Chapters 28 and 29. Let me share a few verses from Chapter 28: "The the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, "Hear now Hananiah, the Lord has not sent you, but you make this people trust a lie. Therefore thus says the Lord: 'Behold I will cast you from the face of the earth. This year you shall die, because you have taught rebellion against the Lord.'' So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month." (vs. 16-17 NKJV)
I have not had a chance to dive into the Biblical history of the Book of Jeremiah. (Maybe some day I will take some theology classes online!) However, by reading through this Book of the Bible, I have been able to ascertain that Jeremiah is a prophet sent to God's people during a time when the church was overrun with false prophets that had led God's chosen people astray for so long that God was fed up. Friends, our Heavenly Father is slow to anger, and quick to forgive. These people He had chosen, protected, and blessed abundantly were rebelling against Him in the worst way for generations at this point...and the false prophets were cheering them on.
II Corinthians also warns us that not only do we need to beware of false prophets and teachers, but that the devil himself "transforms himself into an angel of light," and that Satan's "ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness." (II Cor. 11:13-15) No wonder we are stumbling into sin over and over again. And is it any wonder that so many in the world around us are not just stumbling, but actually celebrating their sins? I actually wrote myself this note in my Bible app about II Cor. 11:13-15:
It is so easy to forget how powerful the devil and his evil workers are. They will absolutely disguise themselves as church leaders, as devout Christians, as helpers, and even as peacemakers. We must study God's Word intensely, so we are not led astray. If we have even 1% doubt, in something being touted as Biblical, then we must test it against the Bible and not just one verse but the whole context around it - and pray as we do, asking God to allow us His wisdom and discernment on the matter.
If we take Jeremiah 29:11 out of context, we might let ourselves believe the half truth that God just wants to bless us, no strings. We might believe that if we're a Christian then God's plan for us is great prosperity and a pass from all evil that tries to attack us. "Just believe, and watch God overflow your cup with wealth and peace." Friends, this is a dangerous belief because it's taken vastly out of context. God does have a plan for us, and it is a good plan. However, we must remember that the Gospel does not give us freedom from God's Law. The Gospel does give us freedom from the consequences of God's Law, because we are incapable of earning our own freedom from sin.
If you read all of Jeremiah, you'll have a much better picture of what promise God is giving us in Ch 29 Vs 11. However, for the cliff notes version, take a moment to read Ch 29 Vs 4-14. At this point Jeremiah has made multiple attempts, at God's direction, to warn God's people to repent and to stop worshipping other gods. In order to save the ones that are willing to turn back to God, they are told to leave their promised land and go dwell in the land of one of their enemies. This is because God is about to completely destroy their promised land, and all who choose to stay will not survive. This is heavy stuff, and a big ask of faith - so God gives them a hope for their future.
Verses 4 through 14 God is giving them a glimpse of the future. In the short term, it probably feels pretty bleak. But God is telling His children, and He is telling us today: He has a bigger picture for us! Play the long game. Have faithful patience. Pray for God's peace. Don't get led astray (again) by false teachers. Keep seeking God, and He will show You peace. If you search for Him with your whole heart, He will bring you back to the promised land.
Friends, I don't know if you have been struggling to discern God's truth from what so many false teachers are claiming as Biblically accurate. There certainly is enough of that going around today - and as we study God's Word we see that's not a new thing. However, I want to encourage you (and myself!) that if we ask for God's wisdom, then seek Him wholeheartedly in prayer as well as through His Word, He will keep His promise that we will find Him! The only way to true peace is in Him. Dwell there, and test everything against His truths alone.
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