QT 19/06/2025 Thu. Jeremiah 32 Trusting God amid “impossible” circumstances. 在“不可能 ”的环境中信奉上帝。

QT 19/06/2025 Thu. Jeremiah 32 Trusting God amid “impossible” circumstances.
READ http://www.esv.org/jer32

Would you buy a stock in a Stock Exchange of Singapore counter when its price is plunging, or when the company itself is likely to go into liquidation due to insolvency? How does Jeremiah deal with his faith in the LORD in the face of devastating ruins of his own nation and people right before his eyes?

Jeremiah 32:24–25
[24] Behold, the siege mounds have come up to the city to take it, and because of sword and famine and pestilence the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans who are fighting against it. What you spoke has come to pass, and behold, you see it. [25] Yet you, O Lord GOD, have said to me, “Buy the field for money and get witnesses”—though the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans.’” (ESV)

Reflection:
What do you do when God calls you to trust Him in a situation that looks hopeless? Jeremiah found himself in exactly that place. The prophet was in prison. The city of Jerusalem was under siege. Famine and disease ravaged the people. The end was certain—Babylon would conquer the land. And in the middle of this devastation, God tells Jeremiah to buy a field.

It seems completely irrational. Why purchase land in a country about to be destroyed? Why invest in a future that looks like it’s vanishing? But that’s the very heart of faith.
God told Jeremiah to buy the field as a sign of hope—that one day, houses, vineyards, and life would return to the land (Jeremiah 32:15). God was writing a bigger story, one not limited by present chaos.

REFLECTION: Are you able to look at the bigger story (purpose) that God is writing in the midst of the present challenges in your lives?
Jeremiah’s words in verses 24–25 show his confusion. He honestly acknowledges the bleak reality—“Look, Lord, the siege ramps are here… the city is falling.” Yet, in the same breath, he obeys. He completes the purchase, trusting that if God says restoration is coming, then the field is worth the silver—even if no one else believes it.

This is a powerful picture of gospel faith. Through Jesus, we’re called to trust God in the face of spiritual ruin. Sometimes, He calls us to obedience that feels risky—loving our enemies, forgiving deep wounds, sharing the gospel in hostile places, or sowing seeds of faith in barren soil.

REFLECTION: Is God calling this church to invest in His mission to the world at large at seemingly unfavourable places and cultures? The world might call it foolish, but faith sees beyond the siege.
Jesus Himself is the ultimate sign of that hope. At the cross, everything looked lost—death, defeat, darkness. But through His resurrection, God showed that He brings life out of death, redemption out of ruin.

Reflection Questions:
(1) Has God ever asked you to obey Him in a situation that didn’t make sense?
(2) Where might He be asking you to “buy the field” in faith—even when you can’t see the outcome?
(3) How does Jesus’ victory give you courage to trust in God’s promises today?

Prayer:
Lord, You are the God who sees beyond the siege. Even when my circumstances look impossible, help me to trust You. Give me the faith to obey, even when I don’t understand. Like Jeremiah, may I believe in Your promises and act with hope, because You are the God who restores what has been  broken. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

QT 19/06/2025 星期四. 耶利米书 32 在“不可能 ”的环境中信奉上帝。
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/Jer/32/

当新加坡证券交易所的股票价格暴跌时，或者当公司本身可能因破产而清算时，你会买进吗？面对自己的国家和民族就在眼前的毁灭性废墟，耶利米是如何处理他对耶和华的信心的？

耶利米书 32:24-25
[24]  看哪！敌人已经迫近，筑垒攻取这城。这城要因刀剑、饥荒和瘟疫的缘故，交在攻击他们的迦勒底人手中；你所说的都实现了，你也亲眼看见了。25 但主耶和华啊！是你对我说：“你要用银子买下那块田地，请证人作证。”其实这城已经交在迦勒底人的手中了。’”

反思：
当神呼召你在看似无望的情况下相信祂时，你会怎么做？耶利米正是处于这样的境地。先知被关在监狱里。耶路撒冷城被围困。饥荒和疾病肆虐着人民。结局是肯定的—巴比伦将征服这片土地。在这场浩劫中，上帝吩咐耶利米去买一块地!

这似乎完全不合情理。为什么要在一个即将被毁灭的国家购买土地？为什么要投资于一个看起来即将消失的未来？但这正是信仰的核心。

上帝告诉耶利米买下这块田地是希望的象征--有一天，房屋、葡萄园和生命会重新回到这片土地上（耶利米书 32：15）。上帝在书写一个更大的故事，一个不受当前混乱限制的故事。

反思：在你的生活中，你是否能够看到上帝在目前的挑战中书写的更大的故事（目标）？

耶利米在第 24-25 节中的话表明了他的困惑。他诚实地承认了惨淡的现实—“耶和华，你看，攻城的斜坡在这里......城要陷落了”。然而，他还是顺从了。他完成了购买，因为他相信，如果上帝说复兴即将来临，那么这块田就值银子--即使别人都不相信。

这是一幅关于福音信仰的有力图画。通过耶稣，我们被呼召在属灵绝望中相信上帝。有时，祂呼召我们去做感觉有风险的顺服--爱我们的敌人，宽恕深深的创伤，在充满敌意的地方分享福音，或在贫瘠的土地上播撒信仰的种子。

反思：神是否在呼召这个教会在看似不利的地方和文化中投入祂对整个世界的使命？世人可能会说这是愚蠢的，但信心却能超越围困。

耶稣本人就是这种盼望的终极标志。在十字架上，一切看起来都失去了—死亡、失败、黑暗。但通过祂的复活，上帝显示了祂从死亡中带来了生命，从毁灭中带来了救赎。

思考题：
(1) 神是否曾要求你在不合理的情况下顺服祂？
(2) 祂可能在哪些地方要求你以信心 “买田”--即使你看不到结果？
(3) 今天，耶稣的胜利如何给你勇气去信靠神的应许？

祷告：主啊，你是一位洞察一切的神。即使我所处的环境看起来不可能，请帮助我相信你。给我顺服的信心，即使我不明白。愿我像耶利米一样，相信您的应许，满怀希望地行动，因为您是使破碎的一切复原的神。奉耶稣的名，阿门。