Our Scripture reading today is Jeremiah 32:16-17, "Now when I had delivered the evidence
of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed unto the LORD, saying, Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:"
Jeremiah the prophet is in prison, but he is still doing the work that the LORD
called him to do. He is giving instructions about buying a field that belonged to
one of his family members. “It would seem that the word of Jehovah came to him as an impression,
as it so often comes to us. We often have impressions which seem to be from the Lord. Let us
rest assured that what He commands He will make possible. When the call is followed by the open
door, we need have no hesitation.” (Morgan) To the average individual, it was not a good
investment as the Babylonians surrounded the land. However, Jeremiah was following a directive from the LORD. “Jeremiah was commanded by God to do this because he was really preaching by what he did. The preacher must believe in what he preaches; and it may be that he will be called to do something which will be to his people the best possible proof that he really does believe it.” (Spurgeon)
This was a test of faith and obedience. God is almighty and can even do a great work when we feel surrounded. If God us to do something, He will enable us to fulfill His command. What is required of His children is trust and obey. How is God leading you? Does it seem like an impossible task? God is able to accomplish anything through willing servants. “Surely if God could make the heavens and the earth by his great power and by his stretched-out arm, He could easily bring it to pass that the Chaldeans should recede from the land, Israel again inhabit it, and the purchase and tenure of property be unhindered.” (Meyer)
Only by God's great grace can we advance when surrounded!