05-31-2020 - 70 days or 70 years?

Jeremiah 29:10–14 ESV

10 “For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.

The first couple of weeks of quarantine were filled with uncertainty and doubt… many were seeking “prophecy” on “what” “why” and “how long” Just as those in Jeremiah’s day who were EXHILED

Sometimes Separation is because of Sin! (v. 10a)

Things with Israel has become so bad, that twice, God told Jeremiah (11:14 & 14:11) to NOT PRAY for the people because He would not hear them in the midst of their sin, rebellion and suffering!

The Divine Declares a Day of Deliverance! (v. 10b-11)

Dependence upon the Lord Jesus is never a sign of weakness

Desiring Deliverance from Distress is not failure

God Turns Distress and Disaster into Plans for Good and Declares that you and I have a Future and a Hope (something to anchor us through the distress)

When we Gather again We Need to Be a People of Prayer (v. 12) and Praise instead of Promoting False Prophecies or engaging in Political Power-Plays