Ancient Prophecies, Peoples, and Promises

‘Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.You show steadfast love to thousands, but you repay the guilt of fathers to their children after them, O great and mighty God, whose name is the LORD of hosts,great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the children of man, rewarding each one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds.You have shown signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and to this day in Israel and among all mankind, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day.You brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders, with a strong hand and outstretched arm, and with great terror.And you gave them this land, which you swore to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey.And they entered and took possession of it. But they did not obey your voice or walk in your law. They did nothing of all you commanded them to do. Therefore you have made all this disaster come upon them.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.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.’--Jeremiah 32:17-25 (ESV)

Why would Jeremiah prophesy that Israel would be defeated by her enemies, all her people carried into exile, and the land overrun with foreigners, and then turn around and buy some real estate in that same area?  Think about it.  If we knew that war was imminent, and that our home town would be destroyed in that war, would we want to invest in real estate at pre-war prices?  Yet that is what Jeremiah did.  He paid 17 silver shekels, or a little over two month's wages, for land that in a few months' time would be worthless.

The answer is found later in the 32nd chapter of Jeremiah

“For thus says the LORD: Just as I have brought all this great disaster upon this people, so I will bring upon them all the good that I promise them.Fields shall be bought in this land of which you are saying, ‘It is a desolation, without man or beast; it is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.’Fields shall be bought for money, and deeds shall be signed and sealed and witnessed, in the land of Benjamin, in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, in the cities of the hill country, in the cities of the Shephelah, and in the cities of the Negeb; for I will restore their fortunes, declares the LORD.”--Jeremiah 32:42-44 (ESV)

It was meant as an encouragement to the people.  Their land would be taken from them (because of their sin), but it would be restored to them later (because of God's love, grace, and mercy.)  God had given His word that the land would belong to the descendants of Abraham until the end of time.  God still honors that promise.

I think this passage is also an encouragement to us.  Even if we do not have a Jewish heritage, we are promised God's love and mercy and grace forever.  If we love Him, He may put us through trials and tribulations.  Our churches may be battlegrounds (literally), and we may see more and more bloodshed in places of Christian worship.  But God is greater than ISIS, just like he was greater than the Chaldeans in Jeremiah's time.

Who were the Chaldeans?  Chaldea was in the southern part of the Babylonian empire, roughly in the area of southern Iraq today.  The term also refers to sorcerers, magicians, and charlatans.  In the second chapter of Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that he could not remember, much less interpret.  He called together all the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers to help him.  They were all dumb-founded.  "There is not a man on earth who can meet the king's demand, for no great and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean." (Daniel 2:10, ESV, emphasis added).

Today it may seem that Christians are attacked from all sides.  On the cultural front, there are those who challenge faith in Jesus using astrology, who equate Christ's miracles with cheap magic tricks.  On the world stage, there is no greater threat to Christians than ISIS.  These religious terrorists are getting more and more bold in not only capturing, torturing, and killing Christians, but also video-taping and broadcasting drownings and beheadings of their enemies.

Do we cower in fear?  Do we succumb to the terror they are trying to instill?  No, for "greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world."  We know that God has invested in us, and that His investment will not return void.  He gives us a peace that surpasses all human understanding.  We know that even in the middle of persecution, our God reigns.  We are assured of His imminent return.  Whether we live or die in this world, we are assured of living in His presence for eternity.  And if we are still alive when He returns for His church, all the better!  Praise His holy name.

I wouldn't advise you to invest long-term in my country's real estate, as we could be overrun at any moment (militarily, or culturally).  You might consider, like Jeremiah, investing in land in Israel, however, because although it will be a war-torn region until the battle of Armageddon, God has promised that land to His people forever.