The Lord's Exiles

The Lord prompted me to turn to Jeremiah 24, and He drew my attention to something that I hadn't noticed in these passages.

Jer.24:5 - "Thus says the Lord God of Israel, 'Like these good figs, so I will regard as good the captives of Judah whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans.'"

Jer.29:4 - "Thus says the Lord of hosts.... to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon...."
vs.5 - "Build houses and live in them; and plant gardens and eat their produce."

An "exile" is one who separates himself from his home. It is someone who is either forced or is voluntarily absent from one's country or home. The Lord speaks very clearly in Jeremiah 24 and 29 that His Blessings and Prosperity are for those who He sent into captivity. These exiles were those who obeyed Him, even though the outward circumstances of leaving their homes and country seemed just the opposite of wisdom. In fact, God pronounced a curse upon those who remained behind and who didn't choose to go into exile with their brothers. The blessing and the promise of a future inheritance in Jer. 29, which is so familiar and so often quoted, was for the EXILES who had obeyed God!

Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:37 - "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me....", and in Matthew 19:29 - "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name's sake, shall receive many times as much, and shall inherit eternal life."

Abraham was told in Genesis 12:1-3 - "Go forth from your country, and from your relatives, and from your father's house, to the land which I will show you. And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing." What if Abraham had not obeyed God by leaving his country and his people?

Nugget of Gold: God always requires separation from all that is in and of the world, including our loved ones. This separation, or "coming out", is most often in our hearts alone, but sometimes more will be required of us. God will have no other gods/idols before Him. Thus, we are required to place children, fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, etc., on the altar. We are required to leave all to follow Him.

Have we become exiles from the world for His Kingdom?