God’s Got Plans Jeremiah 29:11
“God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life!”
Sometimes God’s plan is different than what we were thinking
The Jewish people have a beautiful history of God coming through for them in times of crisis
Exodus 3:7 The L ORD said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.”
Exodus 14 - God brings them through the Red Sea
Joshua 24 The Israelites inherit the Promised Land
II Kings 19 - The Assyrian Army invades Judah
II Kings 19 - The Assyrian Army invades Judah But Hezekiah prays and God comes through again!
597 BC
The Babylonians invade Judah
597 BC The Babylonians invade Judah The captives think “No problem, God will come through as He always does!”
God’s ways are not always our ways!
In Jeremiah 29:1-6, He basically says they are not going home for a while…God has other plans
Like the Jewish people in this story – we too are living in a world that is not our home!
We learn from God’s instruction to them
We learn from God’s instruction to them (vs. 7) “Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the L ORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”
We are to be a blessing to the non-Christian world
Matthew 5:44 “But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”
Jeremiah 29:10 “This is what the L ORD says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place.”
70 years!!
Look what God accomplished in the lives of His people during those seventy years…
Look what God accomplished in the lives of His people during those seventy years… #1. Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego (see Daniel 1)
They became the best administrators that country ever had
Look what God accomplished in the lives of His people during those seventy years…
#2. Daniel Interprets dream, becomes ruler over entire province of Babylon!
#3. King Nebuchadnezzar becomes a believer with Daniel’s help!
#4. Jewish people could live in peace under leadership of Daniel & Nebuchadnezzar
I & II Kings, I & II Chronicles, Jeremiah, Lamentations Ezekiel and Daniel all were written during this 70 year period
#5. Most of all…the Jewish people began to realize that they needed to be right with the Lord
Jeremiah 4:18a “Your own conduct and actions have brought this upon you.” you.”
We look at the big picture and see God is working behind We look at the big picture and see God is working behind the scenes in the hearts and lives of the Jewish people, even though they can’t see it.
Today, God is working through every event in our lives to Today, God is working through every event in our lives to make us more and more dependent on Jesus for everything we need
That brings me to verse 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the L ORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ”
God knows the plan He has for us
He sees our tomorrows
Jeremiah says that God’s plan gives us a hope and a future
As believers in Jesus, our hope and future goes far beyond the parameters of this life
Jeremiah 31:31a “The time is coming,” declares the L ORD, “when I will make a new covenant…” “The time is coming,” declares the L ORD, “when I will make a new covenant…”
630 years later, God ratified this new Covenant when He sent Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins! sent Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins!
We have the opportunity to be forgiven…proving once again that the Word of the Lord always comes true that the Word of the Lord always comes true
Jeremiah 29:12-13 “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
God has a wonderful plan
…it may be different than what we were thinking
God has a wonderful plan …it may be different than what we were thinking …but it is ALWAYS the BEST plan!