Where Will We Live?
“For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land.” Jeremiah 32:15 NRSV The prophet Jeremiah was in jail in a city under siege. The enemy army was invading Jerusalem. The end was in sight. Most of the people would be carried off into exile in Babylon. The nation had no future. The land had no value. There was no hope. At that moment Jeremiah’s cousin, Hanamel, came to Jeremiah in jail. He wanted Jeremiah to buy his field. The field was in Anathoth, a few miles outside of Jerusalem, where it had most likely already been overtaken. No wonder he wanted to sell it! What a bad investment. In the face of invasion buying land was foolish. But the Lord directed Jeremiah to buy his cousin’s field. It was an act that showed great hope in God for the future. That future hope, though, was made tangible in the present moment. Jeremiah bought land. I have been thinking about this story. Our home in Des Moines still has not sold. ...
