Journal Through the Bible: Week 72 Thursday

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Jeremiah chapter 24

Jeremiah received a vision of two baskets of figs set in front of the Temple and an explanation to go with it. This was after Nebuchadnezzar had carried away King Jeconiah. (King Hezekiah followed his nephew, Jeconiah, on the throne.)

Does God issue any commands?

• God asked Jeremiah what he saw in the baskets. Then He explained that the good figs were the chosen remnant taken to Babylon for safe keeping while His wrath destroyed the bad figs, King Zedekiah and the evil courtiers and vile inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Does God make any promises?

• God promised to acknowledge the captives who were carried away to Babylon. He said they were sent away for their good. These people or their offspring would return to the land. These were represented by the good figs in the basket.
• More importantly, God would give the people represented by the figs a heart to know Him. They would know that He is the LORD. They would be His people and He would be their God!
• God promised that destruction would follow Zedekiah, the evil princes, and the vile residents of Jerusalem no matter where they went upon the earth. They would be consumed by the sword, famine, and pestilence.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• God presents Himself as the Savior of His people, those whom He chose to redeem. Jesus is God, the Savior.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• Although they endured certain calamities, the people that were taken captive to Babylon for their own good were better off than those who were left in Jerusalem because they were chosen by God to repopulate the land when the time of calamity ended. God's people endure certain calamity today but one day He will take them away for their own good in order to repopulate God's land when the time of calamity has ended. In other words, the redeemed will - and do - experience persecution on this earth but someday they will be taken away for a season while God delivers judgment. Then once God cleanses the earth He will repopulate the New Earth with the remnant of His chosen ones.