Chicken Soup for the Soul: A Helping of Jeremiah 29 for COVID-19

Two Natural Responses

　　Humans have a tendency toward fight or flight when faced with danger. This is also true in our present situation. Panic buying and demonstrations at designated quarantine sites are examples of the “fight” reaction. Medical personnel volunteering for the dangerous task of taking care of infected patients represents a positive aspect of this “fight” mode. Examples of people fleeing from quarantine or simply fleeing the city represents the “flight” mode. These reactions are not wrong in and of themselves. They are only wrong if, for example, they endanger others or work against the welfare of the whole.

A Third Option

　　There is a third option: waiting upon the LORD. At first blush, this seems like the weakest response. It feels like the proverbial ostrich putting its head in the sand, refusing to acknowledge the danger or to do anything about it. This is not true of the biblical concept of waiting on the LORD. In Jeremiah 29:1-14, the LORD told the exiles in Babylon what to do while waiting for His deliverance. This letter (ca. 597 B.C.E.) was sent to the first wave of exiles taken to Babylon with king Jehoiachin (2 Kgs 24:10-16).

　　Firstly, they were to live a normal life (Jer 29:5-6). These people were survivors of a catastrophic event (i.e., being exiled to Babylon). In today’s language they would probably be categorized as suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. God was not telling them to deny their feelings. Rather He was advising them to accept and adjust to their new situation. They should get back to normal life–building and living in houses, planting and enjoying the fruits of their labor, marrying and bearing children. Normalcy was a sign of their trust in God.

　　Secondly, God told them to seek the welfare of the city where they were exiled and pray for it (Jer 29:7). From what we know of the exiles (e.g., Ps 137) this must have been a very difficult command to follow. To rephrase it in Jesus’ words, God was teaching them to love their enemies and pray for those who persecuted them (Mt 5:44). They have every reason to hate and be angry but this was not the way to live. God wanted them to forgive, seek the good of others and pray for them while waiting for His deliverance.

　　Thirdly, God told them not to listen to false prophets who gave them false hope (Jer 29:8-10). Some self-proclaimed prophets were telling the people they would soon return to Jerusalem, bringing a quick resolution to their exile and problems (v. 21). The truth was that there was no quick resolution and their exile would not end for another seventy years. There are different explanations for the number seventy. Whatever it meant, it certainly did not refer to something that would happen in the near future. Actually, things took a turn for the worse and Jerusalem was destroyed within ten years of this letter. Instead of heeding “fake news” they were to wait patiently for the LORD to deliver them at the divinely appointed time.

　　Finally, God assured them that His plan for them was for good and not evil (v. 11). At the appointed time, He would hear their plea and bring them back to the Promised Land (v. 14). In view of their circumstances, those must have been difficult words to accept. Furthermore, if Jeremiah was correct, most of them would not live to see the fulfillment of his prophecy.

Trust God and Pursue Goodness

　　Waiting for God is not putting our heads in the sand or giving up in despair. It involves faith, patience and good deeds. God makes everything beautiful in its time (Eccl 3:11). We can’t hurry Him and we cannot do a better job, so let’s be patient. In times like these, it may be difficult to believe that God’s intention for us is good rather than evil. It’s easier to give in to despair or even give up. This is not the teaching here. God was teaching them (and also us) to trust Him and wait for His deliverance. On the one hand, we trust God. On the other hand, we do all we can to live a good life and be a blessing to others. I wish to end with the words of encouragement God gave the exiles: “You will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find, when you seek me with all your heart.” (vv. 12-13) Amen!