DEVOTION – DAY 352

Jeremiah 29:11-14a “Plans To Prosper”

Jeremiah 29:11-14a “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Then you will call on 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. “I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.”

Many people place their hope on, and claim God’s promise recorded in Jeremiah 29:11. They think that God promises to have plans to prosper them and give them hope for the future. That is why this verse is often quoted. However, it is important to see this verse in its actual context so that people do not get disappointed when God does not seem to prosper them. Or when the future seems gloomy and they begin to doubt God’s Word and verses like Jeremiah 29:11. The prophet Jeremiah wrote Chapter 29 as a letter. It was to be sent from Jerusalem, to the surviving elders amongst the Jewish exiles, the priests and prophets who were carried off to exile in Babylon. They would have been in exile for many years, and were wondering if God had forgotten about their plight. Inspired by God, Jeremiah wrote to encourage the Jewish exiles that God had not forgotten them. If they sought God through prayer, they would find Him. God would ultimately save them from captivity for His plans for them were to prosper them, and not to harm them. This was a promise given specifically to the Jewish exiles and God honored that promise to them. Also, the Lord’s gracious promise to prosper His people required their willingness to repent and return to Him.

I know someone who quoted to me this verse and asked why God was silent to his prayers to prosper him. He had been struggling with some business activities. I had to explain to him the context of Jeremiah 29:11. I read to him the above verses to help him understand that God does not promise to prosper every believer, at least not materially. If that was so, there would be no poor Christians. If all Christians were prosperous, they would be more dependent on their wealth and resources than they would depend upon God. Instead, the Bible teaches us that God uses tough times to help mold us to be more and more like His Son. He does this to draw us closer to Him, and to learn to trust Him in all circumstances. Jesus even told every believer that if they want to follow Him, they must be prepared to take up the cross.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, Please forgive us for the times when we doubt you and when we become discontented with what we have. Help us to be diligent in the way we read and apply your Word so that we can become people that you may be pleased with. We pray this in the holy name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Questions

  1. Have you tried to claim this verse out of its context? Do you now have a better understanding of this verse having read Jeremiah 29:11-14 in its entirety? Discuss.
  2. For the Jewish exiles, the promise to prosper is dependent of the people’s repentance and return to God. What is God asking you to repent off and to return back to Him?
  3. Plans to prosper may not always be in material form. How has God prospered you in ways that are not material? Share.
  4. Do you know what God’s plans are for you? Share.