How can we trust God's promises when circumstances appear contradictory, like in Jeremiah 32:25? Setting the Scene in Jeremiah 32 Jeremiah is imprisoned in besieged Jerusalem. God instructs him to buy a field at Anathoth—a symbol of future restoration—yet the prophet prays: “Yet You, O Lord GOD, have said to me, ‘Buy for yourself the field with silver and call in witnesses—even though the city has been given into the hands of the Chaldeans!’” (Jeremiah 32:25) A deed for land now under enemy control looks pointless, yet God’s word assures hope. The Apparent Contradiction • God promises: “Houses and fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land” (Jeremiah 32:15). • Reality: Babylon is about to level the city (Jeremiah 32:28-29). • Tension: A pledge of restoration sits beside looming ruin. Scripture repeats this pattern: Abraham waits for Isaac, Israel faces the Red Sea, the disciples mourn at a sealed tomb. God’s word stands; circumstances wobble. Why God Allows Seemingly Conflicting Circumstances 1. To showcase His sovereignty beyond human logic (Isaiah 55:8-9). 2. To refine faith “more precious than gold” (1 Peter 1:7). 3. To heighten His glory when fulfillment arrives against all odds (John 11:4). Anchors for Trusting His Promises • God’s character never shifts “God is not a man, that He should lie… Does He promise and not fulfill?” (Numbers 23:19). • God’s word is settled “Forever, O LORD, Your word is firmly fixed in the heavens” (Psalm 119:89). • Christ secures every promise “For all the promises of God are ‘Yes’ in Christ” (2 Colossians 1:20). • Past faithfulness predicts future faithfulness “This I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s loving devotion we are not consumed” (Lamentations 3:21-22). • The Spirit implants certainty “Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). Practical Steps to Strengthen Confidence • Write the promise and its reference; revisit it daily. • Recall and share past moments when God’s word triumphed over appearances. • Offer praise for His unchanging nature; thanksgiving lifts vision above the crisis (Psalm 69:30). • Obey the present instruction—even a small act like Jeremiah’s purchase. • Saturate the mind with Scripture, letting truth renew perspective (Romans 12:2). Encouraging Examples • Abraham “did not waver in unbelief” when Sarah’s womb was barren; God delivered Isaac (Romans 4:20-21). • Caleb kept the deed to Hebron for forty-five years; at eighty-five he received the land (Joshua 14:10-13). • Paul, chained in Rome, wrote, “The word of God is not bound,” and watched the gospel spread (2 Titus 2:9; Philippians 1:12-13). Conclusion Visible conditions never nullify divine promises. The sealed deed in Jeremiah 32 testifies across time: God keeps His word. Plant faith in His unchanging character, live obediently amid tension, and expect fulfillment in His perfect time, for “we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him” (Romans 8:28). |
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