The prophet Jeremiah sent the exiles in Babylon a letter from God. It said
Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare (Jeremiah 29:4-7 NRSV).
God is telling his displaced, chosen people, “Go ahead; make plans. Make New Year’s resolutions, draft a budget, write up a long to-do list. Do not be discouraged. Because I, the Lord, have plans for your good, you, my people, can be hopeful about the future.”
God’s strategic plan for a future with hope came with stunning action steps: Build houses, plant gardens, marry and have children. “Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare” (Jeremiah 29:7).
What unexpected advice. Not “circle the wagons,” “hunker down” or “keep clear of the heathen.” Instead, God says, “Act with hope. Turn your enemies into family. Do good. Carry on. Make your life better by bettering the lives of those around you.”
I do not know the pain of exile. I do know the discontent of feeling displaced. This New Year’s Day, Jeremiah offers me a lesson or two. “Move on, Sue,” I hear, “move in. Bloom where you’re planted, and all that. Build community. Decide to belong.”
God bless us, everyone, with a hope-full future.
Sue Edison-Swift 1/1/2013
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