10. “This is what the Lord says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. 11. For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12. In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 14. “I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.”
Oftentimes we focus solely on verse 11 and omit the other parts.
Yes God has good plans for us but he never said that we wouldn’t go through. Verse 10 states, “you will be in Babylon for 70 years.”Babylon refers to a place of captivity. The word captivity means the state of being a prisoner, or of being in the power of an enemy by force or the fate of war.
So he basically told us that we would be in the hands of the enemy BUT after awhile, he promises us (verse 12-14) that in those days when we pray, he will listen. If we look for him wholeheartedly, we will find him. I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.” Home is defined as a place of refuge and rest.
In summary, no matter what it looks like now keep praying, keep seeking him, and remember his promises because he will soon deliver you from the hands of the enemy (captivity) and bring you to a place of rest where everything will be restored unto you.
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