But Suppose It Did?

That'll never happen to us! Well, suppose it did. What then? That could never happen to God's chosen people--until it did!

I'll be using Jeremiah 29 this Sunday to discuss what to do when the unthinkable happens--like being exiled for the faith. What to do then?

It shouldn't have been a surprise to both Israel and Judah. In Deuteronomy 28 (note verses 36-37, 49-52, and 64-66), God warned them of the possibility of exile IF they decided to rebel against his word. And 800 years later, the unthinkable occurred--God's chosen nation was exiled, Israel was first (721 BC) with Judah soon to follow (586 BC).

They were not warned by Scripture alone. Over the centuries, God raised up and spoke through a multitude of prophets, warning them of the impossible possibility. During Jeremiah's ministry, Babylon came and removed God's chosen people from their place.

What were they to do while in exile? Not surprisingly, they were to keep their faith alive. Ungodliness and sin caused the punishment, but even the godly had to suffer.. They were also to propagate--keep the nation alive. Surprisingly, they were told to pray God's blessing on their captors.

They were to rest on God's promise of restoration after 70 years, although those who heard that promise would not live to see it fulfilled. Nor would many of their children. But THEIR children would--and did! God kept his promise to bring them home after the time for Babylon's punishment had come.

And they had to be careful. Along with the true prophet Jeremiah, there were many false prophets, promising a two-year captivity. Even among the exiled people, these messengers who claimed to speak for God were giving such false hope.

We don't know what is going to come upon the nation or the church. But Christians are now God's chosen people, exiled in a world that is not their eternal home, awaiting deliverance, all the while being hounded by false promises. Let us keep our faith alive! Let us build communities of faith where we can be reminded of and helped to hold on to God's promise of deliverance!