The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Jeremiah 24:5-7,
"Like these good figs, I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I sent away from this place to the land of the Babylonians. My eyes will watch over them for their 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 uproot them. I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart."
The Lord showed Jeremiah two baskets of figs representing the people of Jerusalem. One basket good and one basket bad. He told Jeremiah that those whom the Lord regarded as "good" where exiled to Babylon and all the others he would destroy by the sword, famine and plague, verse 10.
Certain Jews, represented by the good basket of figs, where those chosen by God, carried off to Babylon where the Lord would watch over them, bring them back to the promised land, plant them, build them up and give them a heart to know the Lord. "They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart." These would be the Jews returning to Palestine to be used by God as a people to bring his Son into the world to provide redemption and salvation.
Why did God chose certain ones to be deported to Babylon and kept as a remnant, while all the others were condemned by him to destruction? Very simply put, as God says "I regard [them] as good", verse 5. On what basis did God regard them as good? Was it because they never sinned? Was it because they kept the law better? Was it because they did not rebel against God as much?
There has only been one way people can place themselves in God's acceptance. From the first book of the Bible to the last: only those who embrace God in faith are found righteous in his eyes - approved and acceptable to him. We read in Genesis 15:6, "Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness." Paul tells us this axiom holds true throughout all ages. In speaking of Genesis 15:6 Paul says, "The words 'it was credited to him' were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead."
Just as today, faith does not make us perfect, but it does place people on the path for perfecting by God. This is why the Lord goes on to say of this remnant he had moved to Babylon, "I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart."
Here is his promise to do the very same thing for us today, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters." Romans 8:28-29.
"Like these good figs, I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I sent away from this place to the land of the Babylonians. My eyes will watch over them for their 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 uproot them. I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart."
The Lord showed Jeremiah two baskets of figs representing the people of Jerusalem. One basket good and one basket bad. He told Jeremiah that those whom the Lord regarded as "good" where exiled to Babylon and all the others he would destroy by the sword, famine and plague, verse 10.
Certain Jews, represented by the good basket of figs, where those chosen by God, carried off to Babylon where the Lord would watch over them, bring them back to the promised land, plant them, build them up and give them a heart to know the Lord. "They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart." These would be the Jews returning to Palestine to be used by God as a people to bring his Son into the world to provide redemption and salvation.
Why did God chose certain ones to be deported to Babylon and kept as a remnant, while all the others were condemned by him to destruction? Very simply put, as God says "I regard [them] as good", verse 5. On what basis did God regard them as good? Was it because they never sinned? Was it because they kept the law better? Was it because they did not rebel against God as much?
There has only been one way people can place themselves in God's acceptance. From the first book of the Bible to the last: only those who embrace God in faith are found righteous in his eyes - approved and acceptable to him. We read in Genesis 15:6, "Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness." Paul tells us this axiom holds true throughout all ages. In speaking of Genesis 15:6 Paul says, "The words 'it was credited to him' were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead."
Just as today, faith does not make us perfect, but it does place people on the path for perfecting by God. This is why the Lord goes on to say of this remnant he had moved to Babylon, "I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart."
Here is his promise to do the very same thing for us today, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters." Romans 8:28-29.
Just how wonderful is that?!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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