The Field In Anathoth

by Toms, A. F. | Category: Gems From Jeremiah | Sept 1991

"How can I he sure of God's will in the big decisions of life?" That is a question that is often asked.

Every one of us who loves the Lord Jesus wants to be sure that we are doing what pleases Him when it comes to making decisions which will affect the whole course of our lives. But how can we be sure?

There is an incident in the life of Jeremiah which helps us on this point. It is found in Jeremiah chapter 32. Jeremiah was shut up in prison at the time, for king Zedekiah did not like the message that he was bringing from the Lord. For forty years Jeremiah had been warning Judah of God's coming judgement on account of their sin, and now his words were coming to pass, for the army of Babylon was surrounding Jerusalem, and the people could not get in or out.

At that very point in time, when the overthrow of the city was imminent, God spoke to Jeremiah and told him to buy a field in his home town of Anathoth. Jeremiah was greatly perplexed, God had said that they were going into captivity for seventy years; surely it was no time for buying a field. Was it really God who was speaking to him, or had he been mistaken? That was the question. Jeremiah was not sure. Sometimes we are brought into situations where we are

faced with big decisions and we are not sure which way to go.

In Jeremiah's case he was given clear guidance by God, for a short time after God had spoken to him his uncle's son came to him with the proposal that he buy the field just as God said he should. Then Jeremiah knew that the word was indeed from the Lord, the circumstances had confirmed it. Is not that often the case in our own experience?

When the following four things work together we may be fairly sure that God is leading us on. Firstly there is the inclination of the heart brought about, either by some word from God through the Scriptures, or by some urge that the Holy Spirit brings. Secondly as we pray about it circumstances appear to tie in. Thirdly, and this is important, we seek the advice of other Christian friends, those who have passed through life's experiences with the Lord, and whose advice we can trust. It is important to share with others the big decisions of life, and be guided by their counsel, rather than go it alone. During all the time we arc considering the matter we should continue to make it the subject of our daily prayers. Fourthly, and finally, in response to prayer there comes an answer of peace to the heart. If there is a sincere desire on our part to take God's way and not our own way He will surely not allow us to make any serious mistakes if we follow these steps.

When Jeremiah was assured that God had spoken he did not hesitate for a moment. He did not understand why he was being asked to buy property, for it seemed to be a strange time for such a transaction. But once he was sure that it was of God, he subscribed the deed in the presence of witnesses, paid the money, and asked Baruch to put both copies of the deed in an earthen vessel where they would be preserved until such time as God brought the Jews back to their own land. The transaction was a confirmation to all who witnessed it that God's Word would come to pass and after seventy years had run their course God would bring His people back to their own land.

Jeremiah knew all that, but he was still puzzled. Why had God asked him to buy land at that particular time? So, after he had obeyed and put the deed into safe custody he prayed. It is important to notice the sequence of events. He obeyed first and then he brought his query to the Lord in the lovely prayer that is recorded in chapter 32 (vv. 17-25). It is really an outstanding prayer, showing his strong faith in God, a confidence which had been built up over many years through many experiences with God:

Ah Lord GOD! behold, Thou hast made the heaven and the earth by Thy great power and by Thy stretched out arm; there is nothing too hard for Thee (v.17).

It was with these words that Jeremiah began his prayer, then at the close of it he spoke of his problem:

Behold... the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans... and what Thou host spoken is come to pass ...and Thou host said ... buy thee the field for money (vv. 24,25).

God came back to Jeremiah with His answer:

Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for Me? (v.27).

He used Jeremiah's own words. It was as if He was saying to Jeremiah, "these are your own words, but do you really believe them? Do they apply in every circumstance, and even in this matter of the buying of the field?" You may remember that God asked the same question once before in Genesis chapter l8. He promised Abraham and Sarah a son in their old age, and Sarah laughed in unbelief, and the Lord said to Abraham, "Is any thing too hard for the LORD? (v.14). It was through the seed promised to Abraham that God was going to bring into the world His own dear Son, through whom all His purposes would be accomplished. There is nothing too hard for God; He works all things after the counsel of His will. Let us go forward in faith as Jeremiah did, in the strong confidence that to the God we love and serve nothing is impossible. There is nothing too hard for Him!

Toms, A. F. | Sept 1991
Gems From Jeremiah