Then I Knew
“Prophets don’t end up in jail cells.”
The thought haunted him during the watchful nights and into t
he disruptive early morning barrages. His prophecies against the king and for the invading army had finally landed him in jail, and from all appearances he was going to stay there until the city was overtaken. This was not how he’d pictured a successful ministry.
But God really was speaking to him — every prophecy he’d spoken was either evident or was being fulfilled at that moment. Prophecy continued: God told the man that his cousin would arrive shortly to sell him a piece of property.
It was too much. Chosen of God and in prison? Buying land he’d never see? It felt like he was completely out his place, a failure, citizen of a crumbling nation. The prisoner — Jeremiah was his name — could no longer accept his own prophecy.
You can see it plainly in Jeremiah 32:8, “So Hanameel mine uncle’s son came to me in the court of the prison according to the word of the LORD, and said unto me, Buy my field, I pray thee, that is in Anathoth, which is in the country of Benjamin: for the right of inheritance is thine, and the redemption is thine; buy it for thyself. Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD.”
Jeremiah did not accept the word at first. He didn’t accept the word until Hanameel showed up in the prison courtyard. I think he just couldn’t. Thoughts, emotions, and spirits all tried to convince him that this was not the truth. Prison was the wrong place for this. No one wants to be in prison. Through prophecy, it’s already sure that the beseiging Babylonians will conquer Judah. The prophecy didn’t make sense: he was sure never to see that land. It was just too much to accept.
But those are feelings. The truth was that every other prophecy had been proved true. Jeremiah knew how to hear from God. The problem he had was believing God when it felt like God had brought him to nothing.
I think we tend to do the same thing today. We feel like something is not right or that our situation is beyond repair. We feel despondent and unproductive, even when Truth shows us that everything is going according to plan. What’s the solution? Accept the word that God has spoken. Don’t wait for Hanameel to arrive before you can believe.
Have you ever felt like Jeremiah did? What ways have you accepted the word of God? Share some hope in the comments section.
You did a great job conveying they feelings Jeremiah and most believers feel at times. You then defined true mature faith – a great goal!
I love how one phrase can jump out at you like this. This one part really helps it come home.
God’s word is beyond Human reasoning, for good reason, He gets all the glory when it comes to pass, for in no way could we have orchestrated such an incredible endeavor – we were just along for the ride! Good motivator, let’s go for a ride