Faith Across the Generations

Scripture: Then I charged Baruch before them, saying, "Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: 'Take these deeds, both this purchase deed which is sealed and this deed which is open, and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may last many days.' For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: 'Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land.'" Jeremiah 32:13-15

Observation: The siege of Jerusalem has begun. Jeremiah in imprisoned within the city, and knows the Babylonians will prevail, destroy the city, and most inhabitants will die. However, at the instruction of the Lord, Jeremiah does two things.

First, he purchases a plot of land in a place that is already under Babylonian control ... thus it is already effectively worthless, yet he is spending his good money which he may need to survive in order to purchase it. Second, he has a friend properly seal up the purchase documents in a manner that will preserve them for a very long time, thus being able to prove his ownership years - generations if need be - in the future.

In this manner, Jeremiah is demonstrating total and complete faith in everything he has ever been told by God. He is actually in prison for declaring the first part of the prophesy, which is that Babylon will destroy Jerusalem and take the king and others into exile. And this prophesy is now playing out right in front of him, as siege works are already erected against the city walls. However, Jeremiah has two more messages from God. One is that he will survive the siege. That doesn't look too promising given he is currently a prisoner and knows what is about to happen to even free people. The other message is that, someday in the distant future (for Jeremiah has already told the first exiles that their existence in Babylon will be a very long time), all of Judah and Israel will be restored and the remnant will return.

Therefore, Jeremiah is securing a good home for his future descendants based on promises that he will never, ever see, and in the face of a terrible situation that is very real.

Application: This is faith ... to double-down on the promise of the Lord, when the hard time is actually upon you. It isn't to believe that the hard time won't occur or I will be spared, but rather it is to believe sometime in the future - maybe not even my future - there will be a blessing I can rely upon.

It is in this faith I will continue to pour into my children's future. My future has no real importance, and I know it. Yes, I can serve and impact others for Jesus, but my name will pass from the lips of others within a generation of my death, and if I am remembered it will only be as some guy in old photos. The promises of the Lord for my family are for those future generations, and I will do all I can to prepare them for success and blessing.

Prayer: Lord, guide me in service to others, for I understand I have no purpose within myself. May I serve others in your name, even those who are not yet on this earth. Amen.