Jeremiah 29:11 ~ Daily Devotional March 1 2023

Jeremiah 29:11 Devotional (Daily Bible Verse)

I know the plans I have for you

Jeremiah 29:11 is a verse that contains the words “I know the plans I have for you“, which were part of God’s words to the Jews who were exiled in Babylon (Jeremiah 29:1). At that time, Jeremiah had written a letter from Jerusalem to the surviving elders of the Jews in exile. The letter was delivered by Elasah and Gemariah from king Zedekiah in Jerusalem, to king Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon.

Warning

Moreover, Jeremiah ministered to the Judahites before and during the Babylonian exile (Deuteronomy 28:36 and 2 Chronicles 36:15-21). He, therefore, warned the people of Judah of their impending judgment.

Consequently, Jeremiah pleaded with the Judahites to repent of their idolatry and evil deeds. But they didn’t. And Jeremiah prophesied that the king of Babylon would conquer Judah and Jerusalem and carry off its treasures and people into exile (Jeremiah 25:1-11).

Encouragement and Instruction

Therefore, Jeremiah’s letter to the exiled Jews (Jeremiah 29:5-7) encouraged them to:

1. build houses and live in them,
2. plant gardens and eat their produce,
3. take wives for themselves and their sons so that they could have children (multiply and not decrease),
4. give their daughters in marriage so that they could have children (multiply and not decrease), and
5. seek the welfare of the city where they were exiled by praying to God on its behalf.

Additionally, Jeremiah instructed the exiled Jews to not let their prophets and diviners deceive them through their dreams (Jeremiah 29:8). This was because their prophets and diviners were prophesying lies to them, for God hadn’t sent them to His people (Jeremiah 29:9).

Judgment against prophet Hananiah

Furthermore, in Jeremiah chapter 28, you will observe that Jeremiah had just pronounced judgment upon Hananiah, the false prophet. And this is because Hananiah had told the exiles that God would break the yoke of Babylon (verse 2).

Consequently, Hananiah added that God would within 2 years restore the Temple’s vessels, Jeconiah, the king of Judah, and all the exiles who went to Babylon (verses 3 to 4).

But while Hananiah’s prophecy sounded appealing to the exiles, it was a lie. And God, therefore, removed Hananiah from the face of the earth (verses 15 to 17).

Babylonian exile

Consequently, God, through Jeremiah, told the exiled Jews that they would be in Babylon for 70 years (Jeremiah 29:10). Therefore, the exiles needed to live normally in Babylon until the 70 years lapse (Jeremiah 29:4-7). For thereafter, God would visit them and they would be able to return to Jerusalem.

God’s plans for you

Therefore, Jeremiah 29:11 is God’s assurance to His beloved people that “He knew the plans He had for them”. That is, He was in the know about the events that concerned their life, but they weren’t (including their prophets and diviners). And this is because God is all-knowing – He is the only one who knows the things and events that concern the lives of His people.

Consequently, when God’s people go through suffering (which most often than not is part of God’s plan for them), they are usually in need of hope. They, therefore, look forward to and seek hope because they are usually looking forward to the end of their suffering. And that is how some prophets take advantage of their despair and prophesy lies to them – Most often than not, some prophets may prophesy lies to God’s people to give them (false) hope.

Finally, God’s plan for His people is usually for their prosperity, hope, and future. And His plan is always in agreement with His covenant with His people. This is because God is always faithful to His covenant with His people.

Prayer/Blessing

May your hope in God abound because of the wonderful plan that He has for your life. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading

Exodus 38-39 (see How to Read the Bible in One Year or How to Read the Bible (for Beginners))