Post by Les on Jan 12, 2023 14:33:17 GMT -5
A Risky Investment By: Chris Wale
Click here for the Audio Message
I knew that this was the word of the Lord; so I bought the field.
Jeremiah 32:8–9
Today's Scripture & Insight:
Jeremiah 32:6–15
The BBC’s Dragon’s Den has aired some unusual ideas on over the years. Such as the Easyxchair—an armchair that doubles as a gym! Yet the programme has also featured investment opportunities that seemed risky but turned out to be excellent. Some years back, for instance, the investors rejected one hopeful, saying: “The public don’t want to order a takeaway online.” Yet today that’s the main way people get take-out.
God told Jeremiah to make what seemed like a foolish investment: “Buy [the] field at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin” (Jeremiah 32:8). This was no time to be buying fields, however; the country was on the verge of being ransacked. “The army of the king of Babylon was then besieging Jerusalem” (v. 2), and whatever field Jeremiah purchased would soon be Babylon’s.
Yet God intended a future no one else could envision: “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Houses, fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land” (v. 15). God saw more than ruins and desolation. Instead, God promised a future of restoration.
At times we may discern God leading us to make what feels like a risky investment. When we’ve tested what we sense is from God, we can trust that He can bring about remarkable transformations. Our obedience can reflect the gift of God’s eternal investment in us—and the redemption to come (v. 15).
Reflect & Pray
How might God be calling you to invest in someone or something? Who can you ask to help you discern God’s leading?
God, it’s a good thing You see the future because sometimes all I see is ruin and disaster. Show me where to go and how to give myself, for Your glory.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
One of the main features in the book of Jeremiah is that the prophet primarily records the message God is giving directly to His people. This was the main role of a prophet, for prophets stood before the people to represent God and His purposes to the nation. In Jeremiah’s writings, this is clearly evidenced in that the phrase “thus saith the Lord” (KJV) appears no fewer than 147 times in this book! That’s 147 of the 431 times that phrase appears in the entire Old Testament. Clearly, Jeremiah was committed to communicating God’s message to His people.
Bill Crowder
Jeremiah 32:6-15
King James Version
6 And Jeremiah said, The word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
7 Behold, Hanameel the son of Shallum thine uncle shall come unto thee saying, Buy thee my field that is in Anathoth: for the right of redemption is thine to buy it.
8 So Hanameel mine uncle's son came to me in the court of the prison according to the word of the Lord, and said unto me, Buy my field, I pray thee, that is in Anathoth, which is in the country of Benjamin: for the right of inheritance is thine, and the redemption is thine; buy it for thyself. Then I knew that this was the word of the Lord.
9 And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle's son, that was in Anathoth, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver.
10 And I subscribed the evidence, and sealed it, and took witnesses, and weighed him the money in the balances.
11 So I took the evidence of the purchase, both that which was sealed according to the law and custom, and that which was open:
12 And I gave the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, in the sight of Hanameel mine uncle's son, and in the presence of the witnesses that subscribed the book of the purchase, before all the Jews that sat in the court of the prison.
13 And I charged Baruch before them, saying,
14 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Take these evidences, this evidence of the purchase, both which is sealed, and this evidence which is open; and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may continue many days.
15 For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land.
Click here for the Audio Message
I knew that this was the word of the Lord; so I bought the field.
Jeremiah 32:8–9
Today's Scripture & Insight:
Jeremiah 32:6–15
The BBC’s Dragon’s Den has aired some unusual ideas on over the years. Such as the Easyxchair—an armchair that doubles as a gym! Yet the programme has also featured investment opportunities that seemed risky but turned out to be excellent. Some years back, for instance, the investors rejected one hopeful, saying: “The public don’t want to order a takeaway online.” Yet today that’s the main way people get take-out.
God told Jeremiah to make what seemed like a foolish investment: “Buy [the] field at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin” (Jeremiah 32:8). This was no time to be buying fields, however; the country was on the verge of being ransacked. “The army of the king of Babylon was then besieging Jerusalem” (v. 2), and whatever field Jeremiah purchased would soon be Babylon’s.
Yet God intended a future no one else could envision: “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Houses, fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land” (v. 15). God saw more than ruins and desolation. Instead, God promised a future of restoration.
At times we may discern God leading us to make what feels like a risky investment. When we’ve tested what we sense is from God, we can trust that He can bring about remarkable transformations. Our obedience can reflect the gift of God’s eternal investment in us—and the redemption to come (v. 15).
Reflect & Pray
How might God be calling you to invest in someone or something? Who can you ask to help you discern God’s leading?
God, it’s a good thing You see the future because sometimes all I see is ruin and disaster. Show me where to go and how to give myself, for Your glory.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
One of the main features in the book of Jeremiah is that the prophet primarily records the message God is giving directly to His people. This was the main role of a prophet, for prophets stood before the people to represent God and His purposes to the nation. In Jeremiah’s writings, this is clearly evidenced in that the phrase “thus saith the Lord” (KJV) appears no fewer than 147 times in this book! That’s 147 of the 431 times that phrase appears in the entire Old Testament. Clearly, Jeremiah was committed to communicating God’s message to His people.
Bill Crowder
Jeremiah 32:6-15
King James Version
6 And Jeremiah said, The word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
7 Behold, Hanameel the son of Shallum thine uncle shall come unto thee saying, Buy thee my field that is in Anathoth: for the right of redemption is thine to buy it.
8 So Hanameel mine uncle's son came to me in the court of the prison according to the word of the Lord, and said unto me, Buy my field, I pray thee, that is in Anathoth, which is in the country of Benjamin: for the right of inheritance is thine, and the redemption is thine; buy it for thyself. Then I knew that this was the word of the Lord.
9 And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle's son, that was in Anathoth, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver.
10 And I subscribed the evidence, and sealed it, and took witnesses, and weighed him the money in the balances.
11 So I took the evidence of the purchase, both that which was sealed according to the law and custom, and that which was open:
12 And I gave the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, in the sight of Hanameel mine uncle's son, and in the presence of the witnesses that subscribed the book of the purchase, before all the Jews that sat in the court of the prison.
13 And I charged Baruch before them, saying,
14 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Take these evidences, this evidence of the purchase, both which is sealed, and this evidence which is open; and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may continue many days.
15 For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land.