PODCAST
Greener Grass
July 17th, 2018
Jeremiah 29:15-23
The Israelites were in a pickle: because of their disobedience to God they found themselves in foreign territory. Since the covenant with Abraham, God’s blessings were revealed as having many descendants and having a place to call home. The Israelites in Babylon did not have their own place to call home—exile was not part of God’s blessing.
The Babylonian Israelites, however, were not the only Israelites. Some remained in Jerusalem, in land promised by God to his people. I imagined that irritated those living in Babylon. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
Those who found themselves on foreign soil, surrounded by the enemy, forced to live in unfamiliar territory were undoubtedly a bit jealous of those who were still living at home.
God, however, wanted them to know that not the Israelites left in Jerusalem were not better off then them. No one in the situation had listened and obeyed. Whether they found themselves in Babylon or Jerusalem, the Israelites all needed to learn to listen and obey.
Author: Stephanie Hendrickson
