August 17 2001
Then the word of the LORD came to me: "This is what
the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Like these good figs,
I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I sent away
from this place to the land of the Babylonians. My eyes
will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them
back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them
down; I will plant them and not uproot them. I will give
them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will
be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return
to me with all their heart.
Jeremiah 24:4-7
After the first wave of people from the tribe of Judah are taken into captivity God shares his heart for and about them. They are in captivity because of their sin, because they refused to repent even though the opportunity to repent remained available for years; right until the last moment. Yet they disregarded God. Despite that... his heart holds none of the negativity that I, in my insecurity, can assume would be there if God had to 'deal with me'. The heart of God is love. He is faithful to his character... he loves his people, always holds out a hope for them, he sees them as good because he sees them as they can be and he always watches over them and protects them. I have to remind myself that anytime that I am inclined to see God differently from this -- that I am wrong. The scriptures are so clear about God's heart and character and that he is unchanging.