Misused Verses 4 - Jeremiah 29:11

We finished up our Misused Verses series on Wednesday.

Jeremiah ^29:11 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.

This verse is often used to say that God will give us great blessings in the near future.  Some even try to use it to support the "American Dream" that God will give you great earthly treasures.

But, Jeremiah, a prophet, was writing this letter to let God's people know that they will be going into exile (i.e. slavery) for 70 years (see Jeremiah 25) because of their disobedience (false idols, corruption, etc).  King Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian Empire were about to take over (we covered this in the "Pivotal Circumstances in the Old Testament" series with the last King Zedekiah).

So, Jeremiah 29:11 is God referencing to a nation (Israel) that they will prosper 70 years from now after they have faced 70 years of slavery in Babylon as the consequences of their disobedience.  In other words, the promise to prosper if not for them, but for their children.  Hope existed, but not until Israel really had to learn the lesson the hard way.

Read Jeremiah 29:4-14 for more context.

In a way, each Misused Verses we discussed had a similar issue:  Are we really following God or are we hoping for other worldly benefits?

Bottom line:  Christmas is about the HOPE that God offers us.  The Old Testament shows time and time again that God offers himself and we often lose sight (or get "fat and sassy" as we like to say) and disobey him.  This disobedience, also known as sin, causes separation with God.  But, God always offered a way back to him through justice and mercy.

Finally, God offered one and only one way to be reconciled and made right with God.  He sent Jesus, both fully God and fully man, to die for our sins.  If we seek God's forgiveness and ask him to lead our lives and we follow Jesus daily, with the help from the Holy Spirit, then that is the perfect display of God's mercy and justice.  Christ took our punishment on the cross- showing God is just because sin has consequences.  And he offered salvation, showing he is merciful.

Never lose sight of how the Old Testament plays a part in the story of justice, mercy, and salvation.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!