What does Jeremiah's prayer in Jeremiah 32:16 reveal about his faith in God? Setting the scene Jeremiah has just obeyed God’s strange command to buy a field while Jerusalem is under Babylonian siege (Jeremiah 32:6-15). Immediately afterward, “After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch son of Neriah, I prayed to the LORD” (Jeremiah 32:16). The words that follow (vv. 17-25) unveil the character of Jeremiah’s faith. Highlights of Jeremiah’s prayer (32:17-25) • v. 17 “Ah, Lord GOD! You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm; nothing is too difficult for You!” • v. 18 “You show loving devotion to thousands, but You repay the iniquity of the fathers…” • v. 19 “…great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are on all the ways of the sons of men…” • vv. 20-21 “You performed signs and wonders in the land of Egypt… You brought Your people Israel out… with a strong hand and outstretched arm.” • vv. 22-23 “You gave them this land… They came in and possessed it, but they did not obey Your voice…” • v. 24 “See how the siege ramps have been built… What You spoke has happened; You can see it all!” • v. 25 “Yet You… have said to me, ‘Buy for yourself the field…’ even though the city has been handed over to the Chaldeans!” What Jeremiah’s prayer reveals about his faith • Trust in God’s unlimited power – His first words echo Genesis 18:14; Jeremiah believes nothing is beyond God’s reach. • Confidence in God’s covenant love and justice – He holds together God’s “loving devotion” (hesed) and righteous retribution (v. 18), reflecting Exodus 34:6-7. • Awareness of God’s omniscience and wise governance – “Great in counsel and mighty in deed” (v. 19) shows reliance on divine wisdom, not human plans. • Memory of God’s past deliverances – Recalling the Exodus (vv. 20-21) fuels present faith; see Psalm 77:11-12. • Honesty about national sin – He does not excuse Judah’s rebellion (v. 23). Faith faces reality (1 John 1:8-9). • Acceptance of God’s present judgment – He acknowledges the siege as fulfillment of God’s word (v. 24), echoing Deuteronomy 28:52-53. • Obedience amid perplexity – Buying land in a doomed city (v. 25) shows faith that acts even when commands seem illogical (Hebrews 11:7-8). • Hope anchored in God’s promise of restoration – By purchasing the field, he stakes everything on God’s future word (Jeremiah 32:42-44). Faith lessons for believers today • True faith begins with worship: celebrate who God is before asking for what you need. • Remembering God’s past faithfulness strengthens present obedience. • Genuine faith is honest about sin and accepts God’s discipline. • Obedience may look unreasonable in the moment, yet it anticipates God’s bigger plan (Proverbs 3:5-6). • Hope flourishes when we act on God’s promises, not on visible circumstances (2 Corinthians 5:7). |
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