GOD’S GLORIOUS PLANS FOR HIS PEOPLE

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 NIV

This verse is arguably the most popular amongst Christians and many will tell you it’s there life verse. It’s a verse that many believes that God personally writes to them especially for their future hopes and dreams. Similarly, I used to believe that this verse was for my personal desires and hopes for the future.

Most kindly, can I encourage you to reconsider its meaning and why it’s in the Bible. The question is, is this verse specifically for my personal needs and how does it apply to a New Testament Christian?

Firstly, to understand this verse we need to go to the preceding verses to see the wider context of it and that of the entire book of Jeremiah. Furthermore, to understand this verse it should be in line with the whole Bible.

Therefore, it's critical that the reader understands what God was communicating to the original recipients of the message and what it really meant to them. Furthermore, what God intended to speak through the prophet Jeremiah and how can we as New Testament believers should understand this verse truthfully as children of God.

So let’s unpack all this. Before Jeremiah gave the prophecy of Jeremiah 29:11, another prophet gave the people a prophetic message. This prophet was a man of hope but was he the real deal?

Hanniah was the false prophet who tickled the ears of the people as he gave them positive messages whilst they were exiled in Babylon (Jeremiah 28:1-4). However, Jeremiah disputed Hananiah’s false prophecies of positivity as God gave Jeremiah a word about Hananiah. The prophecy was that he will die because of his deception (Jeremiah 28:12-17).

According to God’s word those who prophecy falsely will be punished severely (Deuteronomy 18:20). In light of this, God gave Jeremiah who was a true prophet of God a word for the people that they should settle in Babylon but also for them to seek the welfare of the city (Jeremiah 29:1-8).

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. They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord. Jeremiah 29:8-9 NIV

The prophecy God gave Jeremiah comes with warnings to the people. They are to reject false prophets. After God’s solemn warnings against false prophets and their deception, comes the promise for the future.

The hard truth of the promise was that it will take a bit longer before the best part come to past. Therefore, this is how we are to understand Jeremiah 29:11 as it’s attached or part of Jeremiah 29:10.

This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfil my good promise to bring you back to this place. 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 29:10-11 NIV

The Bible is to be read and understood as it’s contained in sacred scripture. In other words the Bible is to be read in context as the Holy Spirit revealed God’s Word to us. These verses are written to the people of Israel. The predicament they found themselves in was due to their disobedience towards God.

Deuteronomy 28 had clear commands from God that their are blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. This has always been the case in Israel's history. When they disobey God they experience God’s discipline but blessings for obedience. Therefore, they were sent into exiles because of their persistent disobedience (Deuteronomy 28:49). 

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans 15:4 NIV

Jeremiah 29:11 and the entire Old Testament were the past written for our encouragement, and to strengthen us on our spiritual journey but ultimately our hope should be in the future of a glorious plan God has for us. The plans promised in Jeremiah 29:11 were earthly but God had future glorious plans for those who were true believers in the Old Testament periods and for New Testament Christians.

Looking at the whole book in context of our key verse, later on in Jeremiah 33:14-16 - God promised His people something phenomenal that a Righteous branch will emerged and be the provider of eternal hope and salvation. 

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” Jeremiah 31:33-34 ESV

This was speaking about a greater promise of a spiritual salvation and eternal life. These promises changes everything for followers of God. The days of the law in stone tablets and temple worship will come to an end and the inauguration of the New Testament era with a better covenant will be fulfilled in Christ the Righteous branch of David. This also goes with other new covenant promises in Ezekiel 36:26 which was a new heart and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit upon believers hearts. Christ fulfilled these great promises of God through His atoning work on the cross for both Old and New Testament saints (Romans 3:23-26). 

Ultimately, through Christ we have the righteousness of God and the gift of eternal life. Earthly blessings are temporal and our hearts should be set on things above (Colossians 3:1-2). 

Are we supposed to use Jeremiah 29:11 as our life verse? I strongly believe no, as it was not written to us directly and that this prophecy has been fulfilled. It’s not for the New Testament Christian, as we’ve got something better. Let me present to you a much more glorious promise from God for our eternal hope.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. Ephesians 1:3 ESV

This is God’s glorious eternal plans for His children. Union with Christ gives eternal blessings which includes the whole scope of our great salvation. Election, adoption, redemption, forgiveness and sealing of His Spirit which are found in Ephesians 1:1-14.

We should delight in God and trust in Him despite our situation and look to our eternal joy with God. The old covenant was always looking forward to Christ who gives us a greater covenant. Therefore, let’s hope for a greater glorious prosperity in the Kingdom of our Lord and God.