Blogging Bible Study: Digging in the Desert - Jeremiah: Hope for the Future

 Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

We come to the last verse in our perusal of the word 'desert' in the book of Jeremiah.  So far, we have looked at verses proclaiming coming judgment.  But there is ONE verse that mentions 'desert' and favor.  With a bit included for context:

The fierce anger of the LORD will not turn back until he fully accomplishes the purposes of his heart.  In days to come you will understand this.  "At that time," declares the LORD, "I will be the God of all the clans of Israel, and they will be my people."  This is what the LORD says:  "The people who survive the sword will find favor in the desert; I will come to give rest to Israel."  (Jer. 30:24 - 31:2)

Pretty much all of chapter 31 details hope and restoration that will come to the nation, but the turn around point is in this passage.  God's purposes in chastising his people will be accomplished...it will come to an end.  THEN his people will find favor in the desert. Now, remembering all the verses that have preceded, they could be in the desert because they were hauled away from their home as captives; they could be in the desert because they fled to the desert to escape the invading armies or they could be in the desert because the town they were in was decimated by war and the desert reclaimed it. There were probably folks who were in each of those categories.  Life as they knew it had been disrupted and they were in the desert until God had accomplished his purpose.

The desert had a purpose...and a time limit.

There's more...God says he will come to them.

God himself will come.

How appropriate is it to hit this verse just as we head into the Advent season?

Most Biblical prophecy has at least two distinct applications...a near and a far interpretation.  Of course, the near application was the return of the Israelites from exile back to their homeland.  God met them in their exile, in the destitution of their ruined land, in their hideouts.  He moved the hearts of various kings and leaders to give the remnant favor to return and rebuild.  But...years later...the people were in a desert of a different kind.  No national prophet had spoken since Malachi.  It was a spiritual desert.

And God himself came, proclaiming the year of the Lord's favor (Luke 4:16 - 21).

But, beyond that, there's hope for anyone who finds themselves in a desert today.  It has a purpose and a time limit and, in the end, to the faithful, there is favor and the promise of His presence.