By: Dale Weckbacher
Text: Jeremiah
24:1-10
Jeremiah 24:6-7
I will set my eyes on
them for good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them
up, and not tear them down; I will plant them, and not pluck them
up. 7 I will give them a heart to know that I am
the Lord, and they shall be my people and I will be their
God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart.
(ESV)
Yesterday the United States took
time to pause and reflect on the horrific attack 20 years ago with the loss of
over three thousand lives due to attacks by terrorists on U.S. soil. Those of
us who were alive during that time in history can remember with detail what we
were doing but with the passage of 20 years, there is also a generation of individuals,
many of whom are now old enough to vote who were not alive at that time. I want
to urge my readers to lift up in prayer those who lost family and friends in
these attacks and remember those trapped behind enemy lines in Afghanistan.
While figs are not a staple in
the diet of many people today, they were something consumed by people during
the time of Jeremiah. Like any fruit, it is best to consume them just after
they become ripe like the basket of good figs in Jeremiah’s vision (Jeremiah
24:2). While Scripture does not specifically say it, the basket of bad figs
were probably figs that had been sitting out for a while and become rotten. The
closest example we would have today are bananas which quickly go bad when left
out. With this vision of figs, the Lord will illustrate the difference between
those choosing to go into exile in the land of the Chaldeans versus those
choosing to remain in Judah or seek asylum in Egypt. These two classes of people
are,
1) Rebels
(Jeremiah
24:8-10) – While it seems noble for the people to resist the invading army
of Nebuchadnezzar by remaining in the land God has promised them, the people
have been rebellious and subject to the consequences of Deuteronomy
28:15-68. These people have been given numerous opportunities to repent of
their rebellion and stubbornly continue to worship pagan gods and God in
violation of the First Commandment (Exodus
20:1-3). Therefore, God equates these people as bad figs rotten with
rebellion against God.
2) Repentant
people (Jeremiah
24:4-7) – Being uprooted from one's homeland is not a desirable situation
but in this instance, the consequences of continued rebellion against God. However,
those going into exile are placing themselves in a position where they will be
under the watchful eye of the Lord and have time to reflect and repent of their
rebellion. The descendants of these people will be those returning to the land
after the completion of their time of exile.
The vision of the figs given to
Jeremiah is symbolic of those choosing to go into exile and those choosing to remain
in Judah or go to Egypt. Those choosing to go into exile are showing obedience
to God understanding they must suffer the consequences of Deuteronomy
28:15-68. These people, represented by the good figs, will repent while in
exile and their descendants will return to the land (Jeremiah
24:4-7). Those remaining in the land are hanging on to false prophesies
promising no consequences for rebellion (Jeremiah
23:16-17). Those choosing to follow the lying prophets and not repent
suffered the consequences of their rebellion.
All of us have sinned and live
under a death sentence for our sin (Romans
3:23; 6:23). Thankfully, God has provided a way of exile for sinners
through the death of Christ, the spotless lamb of God, who took the death
penalty for everyone’s sins. The choice for everyone is to remain in the land
of sinful rebellion and suffer the consequence of death or repent and leave the
land of sin, not going into exile, but to eternity with Christ. For those
choosing to leave the land of sin and rebellion, I invite you to pray with me
now.
Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans
3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans
6:23). I ask you to forgive me of my
sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1
John 1:9). I believe you died, spent
three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord
of my life.
May God challenge and bless
everyone reading this post.
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