A Change of Plans
The problem with false prophets continues in this chapter, this time in Babylon. Some false prophets tell their fellow Israelites that it won’t be long before they return home. Jeremiah sends those in exile a letter, reiterating that it will be 70 years before it ends, so get comfortable. Settle down and rebuild your lives in that foreign land. It is in this chapter that a very well-known and beloved passage is found:
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11
If you’ve been around Christianity for any length of time, you’ve likely heard this verse. It’s common at graduations. It works well in cards of encouragement as someone faces an unknown future.
However, I think we tend to take this verse out of context. Each “you” in this verse is plural. Is this a global truth that applies to everyone? Consider the context of the verse. Is every individual going to prosper in Babylon? No, many will be facing very difficult times. Not all will be coming back. If God condemns certain false prophets in this chapter, does that contradict plans to prosper them, too? No, he is speaking to the exiled community as a whole. God has plans for the nation. Biblical culture is communal, not individual like modern Western culture.
This doesn’t mean that God doesn’t care about individuals, but let us not get wrapped up in thinking each one of us is so important. Groups are made up of individuals, but God’s plans do not hinge on any one of us. We can either enter the story or step out of it. We can choose to work towards his plans or not. Either way, he will make sure his good plans come to fruition.
To Ponder…
- Are you more interested in your own plans or God’s?
- Where do you see God at work that you can join?