You Want Me to What?!

Jeremiah 32:1-27 Read it!  In this chapter, we see a very human Jeremiah to whom I can easily relate. 

The land of Judah is under the control of Babylon.  Neduchadrezzar has been letting them dwell in and govern their own land.  Until now.  They are currently under siege by the Chaldean army.
 
Jeremiah is in the midst of a prison sentence by King Zedekiah.  His crime is speaking the word of God's judgment against the people and the land of Judah.  Although, Jeremiah is allowed to walk about and carry out business, his boundaries are the perimeters of the prison yard. 

 He has recently added a new dimension of restoration and blessing to his message of certain and severe judgment to God's rebellious children. Few people have hearkened to his message before, so why should they now? 

This is where it gets interesting. 

God calls on Jeremiah to be a living object lesson of faith in the message he is proclaiming. Keep in mind that Jeremiah has been preaching that the city will be destroyed, and the people will be carried away to Babylon.  While the city is currently under siege, God tells Jeremiah that his cousin is going to come to him and ask him to buy some family property.  According to verse 8, Jeremiah must think, "What?! When the land is under the control of Babylon and about to be ransacked by soldiers, my cousin is going to think that I might want to buy property?!"  He is not even sure that this word has come from God!  But sure enough, into the prison yard comes cousin Hanameel with a field for sale!  Even though this made absolutely no sense to Jeremiah, he discerned that this was God's doing, and dished out over $2,000 for the land.  Ownership of property was a big deal in those days, and a very public business transaction was made so that all would know the rightful owner of the land.  The proper papers were drawn up and signed, and the deal was done.

Now Jeremiah responds like I probably would have.  He has just spent hard earned money for land that he doesn't need in a place that is under foreign control and about to be possessed  and destroyed by the Chaldeans.  So he goes to God in prayer in verses 17-25.  Read it!  Look at what he says.  He starts by literally crying out to God, proclaiming His power and majesty, confirming that nothing is hidden from Him.  He reminds God, as if God needed reminded, of all that had happened to the Israelites from the time of their bondage in Egypt up to their present bondage to their own sin.  In verse 24, Jeremiah reminds God that the judgment he had been preaching was now actually coming to pass.  I can just see the puzzled look on his face as shakes his head and ends his prayer in verse 25 with a query of  bewilderment as to why God would tell him to make this crazy deal even though "the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans."

God's answer?  You're right! I am God. And I know what I'm doing!  Read it for yourself in verse 27!  God goes on to show Jeremiah that this seemingly senseless action is proof to the people of Judah that Jeremiah believes what he is preaching, that even though they are currently suffering God's judgment, there will be an end to the punishment and restoration will come.  Land will be bought and sold once again as God returns His people to their inheritance.

Has God told you to do something crazy that makes no sense to anyone, including you?  If you're sure it's God's voice, just do it!  Now that's a big if.  In order to discern God's will, you must be walking with Him on a daily basis, spending time in His Word, in prayer, and in worship.  You must be doing what He has already told you to do.  His leading will never lead you contrary to clear commands and principles in His Word.  Godly counsel is to be sought and carefully considered.  If all of the above are in place, and it still seems crazy, God may be telling you to go ahead and jump! 

Like He told Jeremiah in verse 27, Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me?