Hope for Ukraine

 Read Jeremiah 32.  This chapter tells the story of the troubled times in which Jeremiah lived.  His country was occupied by the Chaldeans.  How's that for no future?  Think of the war in Ukraine.  Jeremiah's time was worse.  His country had lost the war.  There was no future, as far as human eyes can see.  Relate the situation to today's war in Ukraine.  Would you buy land in Ukraine?

You could probably get it really cheap.  There's that.  Are you that much of a gambler?

There's more.  Jeremiah was in prison.  Why?  He had upset those in power.  The details aren't necessary for my post.  My point being, how many bad situations can one person stand without becoming seriously depressed?  Anyone would be justified in feeling hopeless.

While in prison, Jeremiah was visited by his cousin, Hanamel.  Hanamel needed money.  Maybe he wanted to emigrate out of Judah.  I would think that it is quite common for people to convert their valuables into cash when their country is in crisis.  The Torah of obligation says that family takes care of family.  Jeremiah had a familial duty to purchase his cousin's land.  So he did.

Jeremiah is in prison.  Who knows when or if, he will ever get out?  Maybe the Chaldeans will kill him?  Maybe he will be deported like the rest of his people?  Who would buy land which the enemy may claim at any time?

Jeremiah is a prophet.  Maybe he knew the future.  I am thinking he didn't know the future like a fortune teller.  He interpreted his present times and prophesized them.  He probably knew like you and I do, that nothing lasts forever. Only God abides.   He was hoping that better times would be coming.

Proof that Jeremiah did hope for a better future was what he did with the deed of purchase.  He made a copy of the original deed. That deed was filed where legal documents were registered in those days.  The other copy was placed in an earthenware jar to protect the scroll from drying out and disintegrating.  Some of the famous dead Sea Scrolls were found in such jars. 

What an affirmation of hope!  People may think that Jeremiah just did what he was obligated to do.  I prefer to think that Jeremiah trusted God.  He knew that God turns bad into good.  What a disastrous situation Jeremiah's country was in.  Jeremiah's king didn't listen to his warnings.  He was arrested.  And his cousin needed money.  He was a failure.  His country was a failure.  Jeremiah's statement of faith and trust and hope looked absurd.

But we know the end.  Good triumphs over bad.  There is always hope.