23rd.: Real Estate Purchase
During the Nebuchadrezzar’s siege of Jerusalem, Jeremiah sat in prison.
The Lord told Jeremiah to buy his cousin’s property.
Jeremiah did so (Jer. 32:2, 6-15).
Then Jeremiah went to the Lord. “Ah Lord God! Behold thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power …, and there is nothing too hard for thee.” (Jer. 32:17).
Jeremiah continued his prayer by reciting how God pulled Israel out of Egypt, and how Israel forsook God (Jer. 32:18-23).
Then Jeremiah got to the core of his question,
“Behold the mounts, they are come unto the city to take it, and the city is given unto the hand of the Chaldeans,
that fight against it, because of the sword, and of the famine, and of the pestilence,
and what thou has spoken is come to pass, and behold thou sees it.
And thou has said unto me, O Lord God.
Buy thee the field for money, and take witnesses, for the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.”
After having obeyed, Jeremiah asked God,
“If all Jewish property is being given to the Chaldeans, then why should I do this real estate transaction?”
God’s full answer is found in Jer. 32:26-44. The core of the answer was,
“As I have brought this evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them.” (Jer. 32:42).
Jeremiah’s purchase was an object lesson to the Jews that God would one day fully restore them to Palestine.
Sometimes the Lord gives unusual commands to us. Nevertheless, we can ask Him, ‘Why?’