Title: Hope and a Future
Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11
Date: 4/11/2021
Bible Version: NIV
BOTTOM LINE: No matter what season you find yourself in right now, the promise of Jeremiah 29:11 holds true: He has plans for a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11
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.
This is one of the most misinterpreted verses in all of the bible. Misunderstanding the meaning can lead to false hope and prosperity teaching. When we study the context we begin to understand its promise and can better let it affect our lives.
Jeremiah 29: A Letter to the Exiles
- Keep Moving Forward
Jeremiah 29:4-5
to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce-
The Israelites were hoping for a quick release from captivity, but God is reminding them they will be there for a while so make the most of it.
They wanted to sit back, be passive, but God says grow where you are planted.
Jeremiah 29:7
Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper. -
He’s giving them a foundation for how to live in a Pagan land. God encourages them to be a light and an example in their current situation, make the city prosperous and you too will be better.
God wanted them to do good in their communities and be a blessing to their Babylonian neighbors. Ultimately, God caused them to be in Babylon, and they should be a blessing where they were set. - David Guzik
God is reminding them to not just sit around and wait for a better tomorrow; instead get to work today, move forward through the mess and let your light shine.
God wants us to make a difference where we are, even waiting seasons are not wasted seasons.
- Reject False Hope
Jeremiah was writing to remind God’s people to not listen to false teaching or to believe a type of prosperity theology. A false prophet named Hananiah was trying to convince people that God would release them in only 2 years and quickly restore their fortunes.
Jeremiah 28:3
Within two years I will bring back to this place all the articles of the Lord’s house that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon removed from here and took to Babylon.-
This prophet was giving them false hope, saying “your blessing is on the way, God has a breakthrough for you.”
Jeremiah 29:8-9
Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. 9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord. –
False teaching comes to tickle the itching ear and tell us what we want to hear – “your healing and blessing is right around the corner,” “your choices don’t have consequences.” God reminds them NOT to listen to comforting lies.
God’s people were in exile for 70 years because of their own sinful pride and stubbornness.
You can’t believe your way out of something you behaved your way into.
Jeremiah 23:16-17
This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord.
And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts they say, ‘No harm will come to you.’
Our culture loves to say “follow your heart, if it feels good, it is good”, but Proverbs 14:2 reminds us that what seems right to man in the end leads to death.
Don’t believe people who tell you God’s plans are to bring you out of all suffering or that if you are experiencing pain or heartache it will only last for a brief moment and God will bring immediate relief. This is false teaching, which was happening in Jeremiah’s day, and is still happening in our day.
God calls us to patiently trust His plan.
3. Find True Hope
When we consider the verses surrounding this favorite “coffee mug verse,” we see that not only is God not promising an immediate end of suffering for his people, but he asks them to dig in and accept their current nightmare, building their future there, even working to bless those around them who have perpetuated their pain!
God explains that if you want true hope and future, you have to learn to seek me.
Jeremiah 29:12-13
Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
The key is to seek God wholeheartedly. God has not forgotten you, and he draws close to us as we draw close to him.
Jeremiah 29:14
I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.”-
God says, seek after me, you will find me, and I will restore you. Patiently trust my plan and keep moving forward.
As Jesus followers we can still cling to the promises of hope and a future found in Jeremiah 29:11
This promise was made to ancient Jews under the Babylonian exile, but they express the unchanging heart of God toward His people. Indeed, these were God’s thoughts toward Israel under the Old Covenant; we should not dare to believe that He is less favorable to those who come to Him in faith, through the Messiah, in the New Covenant.- David Guzik
When we read this verse in context, we realize that God’s faithfulness transcends our suffering, that we can persevere through suffering by the strength of his presence.
Let’s keep moving forward, reject false hope, and embrace the true hope and future found in Jesus.