Identity in Christ Part 2 - Jeremiah 29:11

Identity in Christ - Jeremiah 29:11

Many people love the verse in Jeremiah 29:11 and with good reason. It's a very encouraging verse. However, I am posing the question, "Does this apply to all believers today?" In a way, yes, because it shows the character of God, but this verse was certainly not written to you and I today. Rest assured, though, that the Lord certainly knows those who are His and He certainly cares about each of us to the minutest detail. Once again, we must rightly divide the word of truth to understand this important concept. Let's take a look at Jeremiah 29 to see if what I'm saying lines up with God's word.

In verse one we have the address of who Jeremiah is speaking to and verse two gives us an idea of the time it was written:

1 Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the residue of the elders which were carried away captives, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon;
2 (After that Jeconiah the king, and the queen, and the eunuchs, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, and the carpenters, and the smiths, were departed from Jerusalem;

Please note what verse 1 is saying Jeremiah wrote a letter from Jerusalem to who? The saints of the body of Christ? Not even close. He wrote to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the others that Nebuchadnezzar took to Bablyon. Now ask yourself the question, "Am I an elder or priest or prophet or someone else that was taken by Nebuchadnezzar to Bablyon?" Clearly the answer is no. I have to point this out because this is the context of our subject verse of Jeremiah 29:11. Here's the rest of the verses up to that point so we don't miss any context:

3 By the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, (whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent unto Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon) saying,

4 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon;

5 Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;

6 Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished.

7 And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.

8 For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.

9 For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD.

10 For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place

So we see that Jeremiah entrusted a couple of men to take this letter that he wrote to those in Bablyon. In this portion of the letter, we also see in verse 4 that this is the word of the LORD to whom? Those that are carried away captives, even those that God had caused to be carried away. The message is an encouraging one, although to be told to build and live in a foreign land may not look like it at first. Jerusalem was beloved to these people, but they had walked away from God and were warned many times that this was going to happen unless they sought Him again.

God encourages them to prosper in verses 5 and 6 and says something pretty interesting in verse 7. God wanted them to seek the prosperity of the city they were in for their time there. I can only imagine the shock of these Jews that were told to pray for this city that produced the people who slew their brethren and effectively took Jerusalem from them. The destruction of Jerusalem was yet to come at this point, but still, it must have been heart-wrenching.

Next in verses 8-9 we have warnings on what God knows will take place during this time. God tells them the truth in order for them to hang on to it when the false prophets come and try to tell them otherwise. And finally in verse 10 we have the timeframe of the captivity in Bablyon and the comforting promise that these captives will return to Jerusalem at that time. This is God's word, so they know they can trust it.

That brings us to verse 11:

KJV - For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

NIV - 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.

These translations are a bit different and it's easy to see the excitement that the NIV produces. Those are very encouraging words, but again they are for those in Babylonian captivity. The Hebrew is more in line with the KJV, but the phrase "expected end" more literally means "the end of a cord." We still speak like that today with the phrase "the end of the line". God is telling them the end of captivity. Makes sense, since He just told them it would be 70 years in verse 10, right?

Now let's go back to the characteristic of God and how He knows us. This is constant regardless of the dispensation. First, look at Nahum 1:7:

The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

Jesus Christ shows this in His earthly ministry:

John 1:48 - Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.

Certainly shows His omnipotence. There's more. Here is John 10:13-14

13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

So we see in the time of the prophets and during Jesus' earthly ministry that God tells us He knows those who trust and believe in Him. How about in this current dispensation of grace?

1 Corinthians 8:3 - But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

2 Timothy 2:19  - Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

God's character never changes (Malachi 3:6) and we see that part of that character is knowing those that are His. God certainly cares about everything about you. Note what He says in Philippians 4:6-7

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

See that in verse 6? Pray about everything. Now why would God say that if He didn't care about everything there is to you? He wants you to know Him personally and deeply as He already knows you. He wants you to share everything with Him in a beautiful loving relationship and give you the give of His peace. So have you begun this relationship with God? It starts in one way only, and that is to trust in what God did for you when Jesus Christ went to the cross of Calvary. If you believe that Jesus died, was buried, and rose again the third day to save you from sin and death, you are His.