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Staying hopeful in hopeless situations



That was the most irrational suggestion; to buy a land in a country which at war when the enemy has advanced to the citadels of its capital. But that suggestion was from God.

Prophet Jeremiah had been prophesying that his beloved country, Judah, is to fall at the hands of the Babylonians. His prophecy has come true. The Babylonian army has besieged Jerusalem. It has been a year now; the Babylonians had been waiting for the surrender of the people in Jerusalem. Other prominent cities are already fallen. Judah is already under the control of the Babylon for ten years now.

But God told Jeremiah to buy a land in his village of Anathoth from his relative (Jeremiah 32). The whole country, including the village of Anathoth (just 5-6 km from Jerusalem) is about to be occupied by the Babylonians in a matter of days. Though Jeremiah protested, he had to surrender to the divine command, and he bought it. That was a risky deal—buying a land in a war-torn country, which is sure to fall to the enemy. But Jeremiah did it, or God convinced him to do that.

What was God's argument? God told Jeremiah, that it is a symbolic act. The Babylonian army is to have a sure victory and they will overrun the land in a matter of days. The king, nobles and many people will be exiled out of their country, if they are fortunate enough to survive the sword. However, God is going to bring them back in the future, to occupy their land to build their houses and dwell. Though it will take about seven decades, God will make it happen. Jeremiah had a double message. One of judgment—God is going to punish the people for their sins as he allows the Babylonians to rampage the land and people. At the same time, God's act is not only judgment. He also promised them hope. After seven decades of exile is over, they will return to their land. 

The message of judgment is proclaimed, and it is now taking place as the Babylonians army is positioned at the gates of Jerusalem. But in this situation of fear and hopelessness God want to assure them of the future hope of return to the land.

That hope must be demonstrated, and God asked Jeremiah to help. By buying a land, in a country threatened with war and imminent defeat, Jeremiah had to buy this piece of land to proclaim by his action that: "For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land.’ Jeremiah 32:15). It was an act of trust in God's promises.

God judged his people as Jerusalem and its temple was destroyed and the people were taken to exile. But God did not forget his promise. Seventy years after this event, he brought his people back, as he promised to buy houses, fields, and vineyards in that land.

However, Jeremiah never claimed his property. A few years after the destruction of Jerusalem, he was dragged to Egypt and died there never to see the land he purchased during the wartime. That is the life of the prophet, they live out the word of God in absolute surrender without any questions asked. They are loser in some sense, but they made the point clear that God is not just a God of wrath but also hope and compassion. Purchasing the land, he lost money, so he was a loser in one sense. However, he inspired many to hope in God. 
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