Build the House.

Build the house. Plant the garden. Eat the fruit.

Jeremiah 29: 5 … Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit.

Create a family.

…6  Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters—that you may be increased there, and not diminished.

When the Lord spoke these words, the people were in exile... taken captive by their enemies. And apparently, the Lord had caused it!

…7 And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the LORD for it; for in its peace you will have peace.

Build the house. Plant the garden. Eat the fruit. Create a family.

Seek peace in enemy territory. 

… 10 For thus says the LORD: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place.

Build the house. Plant the garden. Eat the fruit. Create a family. Seek peace in the enemy territory. 

I will bring you home again.

Whaaaat....?

… 11  For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 

They are plans to let you know you not only going to be okay. But, you can be okay right now.

Build the house. Plant the garden. Eat the fruit.

Photo by Michele G

So, we know the people were exiled and that Jeremiah is speaking to them. There were other prophets besides Jeremiah speaking to these very scared and desperate people. In Chapter 28 a prophet claims that Jeremiah is wrong and that it will only be two years of captivity.  That prophet believed what he was saying was directly from God. 

Jeremiah was saying something much different. I'm sure his following was a little smaller than the other guy's. He was saying, "God says this will not be a quick thing, you will actually be here for 70 years so settle in"... 

Build the house. Plant the garden. Eat the fruit.

In Jeremiah's message, they were being called to not just settle in but, to also find Him there.

Perhaps they'd find that home wasn't in the land itself. Or the building or the job or the car ... or any other thing.

What is being offered to them is that which meets them in the exiled land of the enemy. The peace of that city.

Peace where you are.

Perhaps what He wanted them to find is the home that resides in the inner recesses of the Spirit. The Trinity within them. Within us. He even tells us how to find this gift.

Settle down. Pray for peace where you are. Seek Him.

As you seek you will find. But be careful to not be deceived. Back in verse 8, He says "Do not be deceived".

8 ... Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are in your midst deceive you,...

But, wait, back up a minute, if there are two people telling two truths, one of them is wrong, right? And, given that, how do you not be deceived? How do I make someone not deceive me?

By seeking the truth for yourself.

vs 13 You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 

The seeking was the answer they needed. It is in this process that we build home in our hearts. Where we plant the seeds for the future and where we enjoy the fruits of discovery. 

Their ritual (their way of worshipping their God) was in the Promised Land. They had a certain way of doing things. And yet, He says, "I am with you here. Find me here." He caused them to leave the comfort zone of their religion to find Him in enemy territory. 

Why doesn't He just show up and appear? Why doesn't He just make everything okay, NOW? Why doesn't He simply release us from captivity? The very captivity that He takes responsibility for sending us to.

Learning to live in those unanswered questions can be a challenge, but if we believe verse 11, we will do as He says. 

We will build the house. 

He says restoration will happen. In His time. 

In the meantime seek peace through prayer and direction by being in the Word. 

If you don't read the Word, start. 

Journal, pray, be inquisitive … however that fits you.

Join a small group if you don't have one. 

Ask questions in a small group. 

Dive in, somehow, someway ...

Settle down. Pray for peace where you are. Seek Him.

Build the house.