Jeremiah 32 reminds me of the Contrarian View of investing. In short, the idea is when everyone else is buying, it is time to sell; and when everyone is selling, it is time to buy. Because we are usually not the first ones in, doing the opposite of the trend is likely to lead the way when the cycle turns. Realtors, because of their perspective, will always tell you that it is time to buy, but they clearly have a vested interest in keeping transactions active. In today’s chapter, the real estate market is at the ultimate bottom. “The army of the king of Babylon was then besieging Jerusalem”. Who would buy land about to be taken over by an enemy king? To add to the hopelessness, “Jeremiah the prophet was confined in the courtyard of… the royal palace” because he kept giving the king God’s perfectly accurate forecast. The king scolded Jeremiah, “Why do you prophesy as you do?” We all know gloom and doomers, but everything Jeremiah said was now happening. He warned earlier, “If you fight against the Babylonians, you will not succeed”. The king made the mistake of blaming Jeremiah’s words, rather that accepting that his own actions led him to this place. Have you been blaming God?
Now Jeremiah gave the king some odd investment advice, “The word of the Lord came to me… your uncle is going to come to you and say, ‘Buy my field at Anathoth, because as nearest relative it is your right and duty to buy it’”. As if Jeremiah didn’t already have a perfect track record, immediately, the king’s cousin entered to offer the deal. The king, “knew that this was the word of the Lord… bought the field”. Even then, the transaction was not simple, “I signed and sealed the deed, had it witnessed, and weighed out the silver on the scales”. The “deed of purchase… containing the terms and conditions” was then signed by the seller in the presence of witnesses. God instructed, “Take these documents… and put them in a clay jar so they will last a long time”. This was giving as a symbol that, “Houses, fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land”. One important thing was added, “I prayed to the Lord”. Have you prayed over your property?
The chapter closes with a sad recap of Israel’s conduct and deeds. Their actions were completely contrary to God’s instructions, yet on the brink of calamity, God gave them a new hope. “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for Me?” “I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear Me, so that they will never turn away from Me”. Listen to the very personal way God speaks of His people, “I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all My heart and soul… I will give them all the prosperity I have promised them”. My contrarian friend, do you seek God’s blessings, but ignore His instruction? Do you pursue prosperity, but lack peace? Hebrews 9:14-15 reminds us, “Christ… offered Himself unblemished to God, to cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! For this reason Christ is the Mediator of a New Covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that He has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant”. With this understanding, the promise to Jeremiah can be completed, “Once more fields will be bought in this land… because I will restore their fortunes,declares the Lord”. Even under siege, there is hope. Jesus has an offer on the table that you can sign by faith. Is it time to complete the transaction?