What similar acts of faith are found elsewhere in Scripture? key verse “Behold, Hanamel son of your uncle Shallum is coming to you and will say, ‘Buy for yourself my field in Anathoth, for you have the right of redemption to purchase it.’ ” (Jeremiah 32:7) why Jeremiah’s purchase mattered Jeremiah bought land while Jerusalem was under siege, publicly staking everything on God’s promise that “houses and fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land” (Jeremiah 32:15). Scripture records several moments when God’s people made equally counter-cultural, future-oriented decisions: faith-filled property purchases • Abraham bought the cave of Machpelah when he owned nothing else in Canaan (Genesis 23:16-20). His deed was a down payment on God’s word: “To your offspring I will give this land” (Genesis 12:7). • Boaz redeemed Elimelech’s field—and Ruth with it—preserving a family line that would lead to David and, ultimately, Messiah (Ruth 4:4-10). • Barnabas “sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet” (Acts 4:37), trusting that treasure invested in the church would yield eternal reward. acting before seeing • Noah “built an ark to save his family” while the earth was still dry (Hebrews 11:7). • The Israelites painted lamb’s blood on their doorposts the night before the exodus (Exodus 12:7, 13). • Joshua commanded Israel to march around Jericho silently for six days (Joshua 6:2-4), believing walls would fall without a sword swing. costly obedience in hostile settings • Gideon dismissed 31,700 soldiers, keeping only 300, because the Lord said, “I will deliver you with the 300 men” (Judges 7:7). • Daniel opened his windows toward Jerusalem and prayed, though it meant the lions’ den (Daniel 6:10). • Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow to the image, confident that “the God we serve is able to deliver us” (Daniel 3:17). hope that looks beyond exile • Ezekiel packed his bags and dug through a wall as a sign of future captivity—yet also foretold return (Ezekiel 12:5-7, 27-28). • Nehemiah sought the king’s permission to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls before he had bricks or laborers (Nehemiah 2:5-8). • Mary accepted Gabriel’s word that she would conceive by the Holy Spirit, saying, “May it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). the common thread Each example mirrors Jeremiah’s deed: a tangible, sometimes costly step that proves trust in the Lord’s unbreakable promises despite present evidence to the contrary. Faith refuses to wait for circumstances to improve; it moves at God’s word—and God always honors such obedience. |
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