“Indeed this city has been to Me a provocation of My anger and My wrath from the day that they built it, even to this day, so that it should be removed from before My face, because of all the evil of the sons of Israel and the sons of Judah which they have done to provoke Me to anger — they, their kings, their leaders, their priests, their prophets, the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem…. Behold, I will gather them out of all the lands to which I have driven them in My anger, in My wrath and in great indignation; and I will bring them back to this place and make them dwell in safety…. I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me. I will rejoice over them to do them good and will faithfully plant them in this land with all My heart and with all My soul” (Jer 32:31-32, 37, 40-41).
In Jeremiah 32, God tells the prophet to purchase a deed to land that was about to be destroyed by the Babylonians. This was not a personal investment but a prophetic sign of God’s intention to bring His people back to the land, fulfilling His promise of a new covenant (compare Jer 32:37 with Deut 30:1, 4; Jer 32:40 with Deut 30:6; Jer 32:41 with Deut 30:9; Jer 32:44 with Deut 30:3).
…God delights to redeem those who believe they are beyond hope.
Most striking is the sudden shift from a litany of Israel’s sins (Jer 32:31-36) to God’s unmerited promise to bless them (Jer 32:37-44). This chapter celebrates the grace of God which, though never in conflict with His justice, defies human ability to measure or contain. And His grace shines brightest when poured out on those deemed a “total loss” (notice Jeremiah’s allusion to God’s grace after the golden calf: Jer 32:18; Exod 34:6-7).
Perhaps you see a lost cause of sinful addiction staring back at you in the mirror. Yet God delights to redeem those who believe they are beyond hope. Let Jeremiah’s praise of His power and grace sink into your heart: “Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You” (Jer 32:17).
