02 JULY

WALKING IN TRUST

“Jeremiah said: The word of the Lord came to me: Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle will come to you and say, ‘Buy my field that is at Anathoth, for the right of redemption by purchase is yours.’” (Jeremiah 32:6-7, NIV)

Buy my field? What a strange command! God had just been asking Jeremiah, His prophet, to tell His people that He would soon judge them for their sin. He would allow Babylon to destroy their land and take them into captivity for 70 years. This had already started happening. And then, the same God asked him to buy a piece of land in the same territory. Did this investment make sense?

Would Jeremiah be alive in 70 years to reap the benefits of this investment? At this time, Jeremiah was a prisoner in the palace and could not go and inspect this land? Everything pointed to the seeming foolishness of this command. Indeed, it must have been tough, but Jeremiah chose to trust God! This was his chance to demonstrate his faith in God as Creator; and as the fountain of wisdom, who knows the end from the beginning. It was an opportunity to show that he believed the words God spoke through him that He would bring His people back and rebuild Jerusalem. As the subsequent verses show, Jeremiah obeyed God, trusting completely in His wisdom.

Indeed, there are times in our lives that we are tempted to doubt the wisdom of God’s instructions and promises. However, like Jeremiah, we must remember the infallibility of His Word, as well as past testimonies of His faithfulness. This will help to bring us into complete obedience.

A friend told me a story, just after the Nigerian stock market crashed, following the initial boom period. He had made some profits from his investments in stocks and at the height of the boom, when others were borrowing to invest for huge profits, the Lord had asked him to take out all his funds and invest in a poultry farm. It didn’t seem to make sense as this was also the time that bird flu had just made the business unprofitable. However, he obeyed. Not long after, stock values crashed but the poultry business boomed!

How do you decide on investments? Are you willing to obey what God says?

ACTION: Pray about your work, business and investments! Hear God speak!  TRUST AND OBEY.

PRAYER: Lord, give me a heart that trusts you in all circumstances, even if circumstances and acquaintances pressure me to do otherwise.