A Prayer Of Understanding

Jeremiah was the kinsman redeemer of Hanameel his uncle's son.  Hanameel came to him and told Jeremiah, " Buy my field, I pray thee, that is in Anathoth, which is in the country of Benjamin: for the right of inheritance is thine, and the redemption is thine; buy it for thyself." Jeremiah 32:8.  This is happening in the backdrop of a politically dangerous time, Israel is in imminent overthrow.  The Babylonian army has besieged Jerusalem.  Jeremiah is arrested in the court of the prison.  Jeremiah is at odds with King Zedekiah - He had prophesied that Israel and Judah would be taken captive and has even given him these instructions in writing - Jeremiah 29:3.

Do you buy land when there is political unrest? When there is uncertanity?  When you are in prison do  you even have rights? The time was not the best to purchase land; yet God for a purpose instructs Jeremiah to redeem this land, to purchase this land in Anathoth.  This is a sign of a God's big picture for Israel - They would return many years from this time! The time of their captivity would be a long one - Jeremiah 29:28


Jeremiah resorts to a prayer for understanding. It is a great prayer. I love this verses, listen:

"Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee: Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name, Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings" Jeremiah 32:17-19

Nothing is too hard for our Lord GOD! He is the creator, He has great power.  In God's dealing with man He shows unfathomable loving-kindness to man.  God has great counsel and is mighty! His ways are way above ours -  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. - Isaiah 55:8,9

As much as it looked out of place to purchase land, God was showing Israel that the thoughts He had for Israel was for peace and not of evil, to give them a future and hope. Jeremiah 29:11 As God had a big picture for Israel even so today He has one for you and I and we need to seek His understanding when we have a dilemma in decision-making.