Exiles Sent to Bring Flourishing
2 Kings 24:18 - 25:26, Jeremiah 29:4 - 14, Daniel 3, Revelation 21:1- 4
Sometimes, it is hard to feel like you belong or want to invest in this world because there is so much corruption and division. As we look around, it is easy to admit that this world is not like the Kingdom of Heaven yet, but God uses His people as sent ambassadors to bring flourishing to our spaces and to seek the welfare of the people around us while we wait for Him to return.
One of the most important moments in the Bible happens in 587 BC when Jerusalem is attacked and conquered by the Babylonians. This is a sad point in the Biblical narrative and is the result of years of Israel’s disobedience to God even though they were warned by many prophets like Jeremiah, who we read about yesterday. Israel’s continued unrepentant hearts resulted in exile to Babylon, and this exile was not a retreat into Babylon but a punishment with horrific treatment as strangers in a new land. Yet, we read in Jeremiah 29 that God calls them to bring life to their exile. They are told to build houses and have children, to plant gardens, and to bring flourishing to where they are. Then, they are told to seek the welfare of the nation that captured them. When I think of life in captivity, I definitely do not think of praying for and seeking the health and wealth of my captors. This was such a radical command by God and is a beautiful picture of investing in the place that you are in while being loyal to another kingdom.
When the Israelite people obeyed God’s command and sought the welfare of Babylon during their captivity, God blessed them, and He was glorified. For example, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego served the Babylonian king as administrators but refused to worship his false gods, as explained in Daniel 3. They sought the welfare of Babylon by working for the king but drew the line when asked to worship someone other than their God. As you read, the king threw them into the furnace, but the result was their safety and glory given to God because they obeyed His command to seek and pray for the welfare of Babylon. They are an example of how the Israelite people had to learn to trust what God has said and believe that He would protect them and liberate them from captivity in His timing.
As you probably noticed, one of the most quoted passages of scripture is also in this section of Jeremiah.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).
How beautiful is this passage when you read it in the correct context? God has sent His people to exile, tells them to live peaceably, and then tells them that He has plans of hope and a future for them. This is a reminder that He will not leave them in exile forever and that this time is purposeful and intentional in His overarching story. Similarly, we are to live as “sent” people to this world and seek its welfare. But the welfare we seek here is only a shadow of what is to come because God promises in Revelation 21 that there will be a new heaven and a new earth where there will be no suffering or pain. One day, He will make things new, and there will be flourishing and joy in our relationship with Him forever. For now, we await that day, and through our relationship with Jesus, we seek the welfare of people and nations around us and live as sent ambassadors for the glory of God.
As you process this chapter, here are a few questions to consider:
How could you pray for / do something about the welfare of someone around you?
Is the idea of seeking the welfare of this earthly kingdom difficult or easy for you to agree with? Why?
