Read Jeremiah 24
In the 2011 movie Zoo Keeper, Griffin, one of several zookeepers employed by the zoo, has been going steady with his girlfriend Stephanie for some time. He plans a romantic beach front proposal, having prepared a surprise love
Unexpected answers cause us a lot of grief, don’t they? The proud and arrogant priests, prophets and leaders in Jerusalem during Jeremiah’s prophesy received an unexpected answer from the Lord about the exile that had occurred.
The vision of the two baskets of figs given to Jeremiah can be dated sometime in 597 B.C at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah. In the vision Jeremiah sees two baskets of figs placed in front of the temple. The vision called to mind the offering of the first fruits in a basket before the LORD (Deut. 26:11). In one of the baskets the figs were very good and resembled those that ripen early (cf. Isa. 28:4; Hosea 9:10; Micah 7:1) - those were the first fruits that were to be offered to God (Deut. 14:22). The second basket contained very poor figs that had deteriorated to the point where they could not be eaten. Such offerings were unacceptable to the LORD (cf. Mal. 1:6–9).
God revealed that the good figs represented the exiles from Judah who had been carried away to Babylon. This was the unexpected answer because it was largely held and believed that those in captivity had been taken away from the LORD (cf. Ezek. 11:14–15). Those who remained in the land or who fled to Egypt (thus avoiding exile) were thought to be blessed and close to the Lord. Yet God promised to watch over the remnant in captivity and to bring them back to the Promised Land (cf. Ezek. 11:16–17). He also promised to give them a new heart so they will know Him (cf. Jer. 4:22). They, not the people staying in Jerusalem, would be His people and will return to Him with all their heart. Though God did restore a minority of the people to the land after the Babylonian Captivity, they never experienced the full blessings of fellowship promised by God (cf. 31:31–34; Ezek. 36:24–32). The best was yet to come.
The poor figs represented Zedekiah and the other survivors (cf. 29:17–19) including those in the “Promised Land” and those who fled to Egypt (cf. 43:4–7). God vowed to make them abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth. They would be ridiculed and cursed wherever they went. God would send His instruments of judgment upon them until they were all destroyed.
Sometimes our expectations are turned up side down. Sometimes we receive answers that are totally unexpected. Usually it’s because of pride, arrogance or over self confidence. The survivors of the exile felt they had been blessed by God, but in reality they were the cursed ones. Those they thought were cursed and removed from God were actually the blessed ones who remained close to the Lord.
Prayer:
Using today’s passage and the reading notes spend time in prayer.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
· Pray that there would be no pride in your congregation tomorrow and that the believers would humbly and graciously love each other, even putting others needs above their own.
· Pray that the Word would be powerfully and fearlessly preached tomorrow and that God would work powerfully through it, bringing glory to Himself, lifting up the name of Jesus and comforting, strengthening, challenging and even rebuking the disciples as needed.
1. Share a time when you received an unexpected answer. Was pride or over confidence involved?
2. How do you account for the exile theologically? Hint: Where does it fit into the mega story of the Bible?
3. Some could argue that a loving God would never exile His own people. How do you respond?
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