The Bigger Picture
To understand Jeremiah 29:13-14 we need to understand the bigger picture, the background and context in which God gave Jeremiah those words for Judah. The why behind the instructions to seek and find. The book of Jeremiah is the longest in the bible and has many significant and well known verses, but we need to look at individual verses in the context that they were written from so that our seeking brings the fruitfulness of truth to our understanding.
Jeremiah, from the tribe of Judah, was a prophet and a priest in Jerusalem from 626 BC to around 586 BC. This was the time the Babylonians who, under King Nebuchadnezzar, were laying siege to Jerusalem finally broke through the walls, destroyed the temple and took most of the people captive taking them to Babylon.
When God first spoke to Jeremiah, at the beginning of Chapter 1, his message was simple - I’ve appointed you prophet to the nations, and you are going to announce to Judah they are going to be taken captive, their Kingdom and temple will be destroyed. This is the consequence of their sin and corruption. The people won’t believe you, but it’s happing.
Jeremiahs initial response boiled down to ‘seriously! I’m too young, and I’m a massive introvert’. By the time god had finished speaking to him, Jeremiah had become strong and courageous, passionate about Judahs sin and its consequences, individual accountability, and God being the God of all nations. He’d been given a highly unpopular, difficult job.
Chapter 29 is a letter to all those exiled in Babylon, that was taken from settlement to settlement and read to everyone. It told the people to build houses, plan to stay, plant gardens, marry and raise children and grandchildren - multiply. Work for peace and prosperity of the city God has exiled them to and pray for it. Stay away from its prophets and fortune tellers - they lie. The welfare of Babylon would determine the welfare of the exiles.
Then it tells them that they will be there for 70 years, then God would free them and bring them home. How do they cope with all of this? How will this all happen?
“…I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again.For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the Lord. Jeremiah 29:10-14 nlt
I’m coming for you, this is my plan for your future, its good and you’ll find hope in it, while you wait I will listen, look for me, (seek) me. and you will find me.
The scene is set. When God invites you to do something it’s an invitation that’s for good and for your future. Sometimes you just need to stretch your neck, look up and find the best leaves are above your head - like the giraffe.
