God's Plans

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11).

This verse that is quoted often, especially in difficult times, carries much more power when we consider the context.

Jeremiah prophesied during the years preceding the destruction of Jerusalem and the captivity of Judah. His prophecies span about 50 years, warning the people that destruction was coming because of their sinfulness. He is an eyewitness to the siege of Zion (see Lamentations) and remains in Palestine among the poor after the majority of Judah had been carted off to Babylon.

In this passage, Jeremiah gives God's plan for the captivity. "For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" (v 10-11).

God had made promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to the nation through Moses and the prophets. Disobedience would bring judgment, but God would give the children of Israel an inheritance of land. At the time of Jeremiah, these prophecies were being fulfilled. Because of their rebellion, they were being taken away to a foreign land.

But because of God's faithfulness, He would bring them back - in seventy years.

Consider the following verses:

"Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will hear you. You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile" (v 12-14).

God's purpose in the captivity was to draw the children of Israel back to Himself. After the time of captivity, God's chosen people would call upon Him and He will hear them. They would look for Him and He would be found by them.

The primary application is for Israel. God was going to drive them out of their land, but bring them back after 70 years.

A secondary application is for the New Testament follower of Jesus Christ, obviously doesn't involve a restoration to the land and physical blessings.

But it also does not mean simply that God will carry us through a difficult time. Often the intent of this verse on cards and coffee mugs is, "Just hold on. It's going to get better."

Like His desire for Israel, God's desire for the follower of Jesus Christ is that we would draw closer to Him. That we would become more dependent on Him, calling out to Him, being satisfied in Him, is His goal for us.

So, it is much more than just hanging on until it gets better.

God's plan is that we would be totally satisfied in Him. The difficulties that we walk through can remove the idols of our hearts. The things, people, positions, health, and stability that we thought were so important might be stripped away, so that we find our significance in God alone.

That is God's plan of welfare, not evil, a future and a hope.

As we find our satisfaction in Him alone, the idols which we thought were so important become insignificant. That gives us a future and a hope, good and not evil.