4 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” 8 Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. 9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord.
10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 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. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
The Israelites were in captivity, they were slaves. There were false prophets among them telling them that they were going to soon be free, but that was not the case. God told them that they were going to be slaves for 70 years.
It is in this moment of captivity that God tells them: “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” He is giving them hope in the middle of the difficult situation they are in. God is telling them that even though they are going to be slaves for 70 year He is there with them.
Whatever situation you are going through God is there for you, He wants to give you hope. He wants to give you a future. It might seem there is no end to the situation or that God has forgotten about you, but He hasn’t.
Even though God allowed the Israelites to be in captivity for 70 years He was still looking out for them. In verses 5-7 He tells them: “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” God is a good father and he is always going to look out for his children. He will still look out for you even in the middle of the situation you are going through.
I wrote a post about trusting God in times of uncertainty that you can read here. I hope it blesses you.
