Observation: Jeremiah is given a vision of two baskets of figs, one with very good figs, and one so rotten they are inedible. This is after Nebuchadnezzar has defeated Jerusalem the first time, taking many leaders into exile, but before it will be fully destroyed. The Lord declares the bad figs as those who remain in Jerusalem, and in fact they will remain in rebellion against the Lord. They will reject Jeremiah when he tells them to return to honoring only the Lord. They will disobey instructions to become humble vassals and accept the punishment and correction they are receiving through Babylon. They will eventually rebel and incite Nebuchadnezzar to the full destruction of Jerusalem and to their own terrible deaths by famine, starvation, war, and execution.
However, the good figs are actually those now in exile ... those living in Babylon and serving new, foreign masters. And who do those exiles include? They include King Jehoiachin, who will eventually be allowed to eat dinner at Nebuchadnezzar's own table and will father the kingly line of David that one day returns to the throne. They include Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego, who will oppose idol worship in Babylon and by their great faith be saved in the fiery furnace. They include Daniel, who with his friends will oppose the eating of unclean food, interpret dreams for Nebuchadnezzar by his amazing connection to the Holy Spirit, and eventually become the leader of the magi. They include Ezekiel, another great prophet who will pronounce the Lord's comfort and instruction to the Jews about how to live in exile.
By becoming the first to accept the word of the Lord and submit to his direction and plan, even though it involved captivity and removal from the promised land, it is this good group that will become the anchoring remnant that can someday return. No matter how painful that moment of exile was, submitting to God's plan made them good, and turned out to be the better of the alternatives.
Application: Most of the time, I have no idea what God wants me to do in life. I struggle to hear his direction, and of course that is because my pride has kept the Holy Spirit at arm's length too often in my life. However, when I have heard his whisper, I also struggle to fully accept and submit to it. If I am honest with myself, my greatest hardship likely resulted from twice ignoring the Lord's guidance.
So what does the Lord want me and my family to do now? Are we being obedient to his direction and timing? There are some elements that seem obvious, but others that are vague at best. It is legitimate to worry if those 'obvious' elements are truly that, or if they are actually our human plan that makes such logical sense to us that we therefore call them obvious.
I wish to submit to the Lord's plan, for I know it is best. I do hope it becomes clear and obvious. Even if that plan does not at first to appear to be something I would want, I can trust it will be better than any alternative.
Prayer: Lord, I would like to be a good fig. You know we have begun praying and meditating about your path for the final third of our lives, especially where we will live and what we will do. That status quo seems unlikely, and some directions feel obvious, but we continue to seek your clear word. Thank you for your love and care and guidance and blessing and wisdom in all things. Truly, may thy will, and not our own, be done. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment