Tuesday Reflection- August 31, 2021
There’s Balance in God’s Action
In every situation there are two sides. Our ability to view both sides help us to have a more balanced understanding. In today’s watchword God helps the prophet Jeremiah to understand that there is a balanced approach to all that He does, thus even in times of hopelessness, there will always be a glimmer of hope. Today’s Watchword is from Jeremiah 32: 42. Thus says the Lord, “Just as I have brought all this great disaster upon this people, so I will bring upon them all the good fortune that I now promise them.
As the city of Jerusalem was under siege by the Babylonian army, a war which they would lose, God spoke to the prophet, and following the vision he purchased a field in Jerusalem. Jeremiah instructed his servant to safely secure the deeds in anticipation of the time when the land would again be valuable to his family. It may have seemed strange, this buying of a prized property during a time of war and uncertainty. God, however, wanted the people to know through the words and action of the prophet that even though they were facing defeat and displacement, that would not be the end of their story. They were still his chosen people, his covenant people and as such would never be without hope. We learn from the passage that Judah’s pending displacement was because of their sin. The Covenant love that God had for them however would lead to their return to their homes. God would not punish them without hope of restoration but would offer redemption and return to the repentant demonstrating balance in God’s justice.
The balance of God’s justice is demonstrated in the vast difference between the reason for Judah’s judgement and her redemption. The people are being judged because of their rebellious disobedience to God. They became an idolatrous people, following pagan religions, and turning away from the principles of their faith. They fell below God’s desired expectation of them as his chosen people in their desire to be more like the people among whom they lived. It’s a lesson to us today that we need to be careful not follow the world, but rather follow Christ. God’s redemptive love was shown in that even as Judah was being displaced, even as they were losing everything, they were being promised a time of return to the land and to wealthy times. This would happen as God worked on them to bring them to a spiritual level such as they have never experienced. The punishment would bring them a fresh understanding of God’s goodness, and new experiences of God’s blessings. We see this balanced action of God played out even more vividly in the New Testament as God sent his Son Jesus Christ into a world deserving of his judgment, not to condemn, but to save those who believe on His name. Today as we see the many disasters that seek to overtake us, as we grapple with a worldwide pandemic that has impacted ever living human being, as we see political and social upheavals the world over, we find hope in God’s word that despite it all, there is hope for a brighter future for God will never abandon us to destruction. David was sure of this when he wrote in Psalm 16: 9 – 11: Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope.
10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. 11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Dear friend, things may not be the way we want at the moment, but in God’s plan for us, there will be brighter days. Hold on in this moment, and trust in the balanced actions of God for what the future holds. Amen.