What does purchasing the field signify about faith in God's promises? Setting the Scene “ ‘So I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel and weighed out for him the silver—seventeen shekels of silver.’ ” (Jeremiah 32:9) Why the Purchase Was Remarkable • Jerusalem is under Babylon’s siege; surrender seems inevitable. • Land values would have been near zero; exile is coming. • God himself had told Jeremiah to prophesy destruction (32:3–5). • Yet God commands Jeremiah to buy land—an act that makes no earthly sense. Faith Made Visible Jeremiah’s deed reveals four facets of faith in God’s promises: 1. Trust that runs against all evidence • Hebrews 11:1, “faith is the assurance of what we hope for.” • Like Abraham, who “hoped against hope” (Romans 4:18), Jeremiah places hope where no hope is visible. 2. Confidence in literal restoration • Jeremiah 32:15, “Houses and fields and vineyards will again be bought”. • The deed and sealed scrolls stored in a jar (32:14) preserve legal proof for future heirs—faith that God’s promise will unfold in real, geographic Israel. 3. Obedience that costs something now • Seventeen shekels of silver is not symbolic; it’s hard currency. • Faith parts with present resources because God’s future return is certain (Luke 6:38 pairs the principle). 4. Testimony for the watching remnant • The purchase preaches louder than words—God has not abandoned His covenant people. • Jeremiah’s actions encourage captives who will cling to “ ‘I know the plans I have for you’ ” (Jeremiah 29:11). Buying a Future No One Else Could See • The deed rests in a clay jar, surviving the exile as silent evidence. • When descendants return, the legal title will still stand—proof that God’s word outlasts empires (Isaiah 40:8). • Jeremiah aligns his personal finances with God’s timetable, teaching that faith invests long-term in divine certainty, not short-term human forecasts. Connecting Dots Across Scripture • Numbers 27:1-11—land inheritance laws underscore God’s commitment to territory promises. • Psalm 37:3, “Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness”—Jeremiah literally cultivates faithfulness by acquiring land. • 2 Corinthians 5:7, “We walk by faith, not by sight”—a succinct caption of Jeremiah 32. Takeaways for Today • Faith acts, it doesn’t merely assent. Obedience becomes the proof of belief. • God’s promises are as tangible as deeds and silver; He stakes His reputation on real outcomes. • When circumstances scream “impossible,” faith purchases the field and waits for God’s “appointed time” (Habakkuk 2:3). |
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