The 17 Shekel Promise

God instructed the prophet Jeremiah to make a head-scratching business decision for His redemptive purposes.  Before his cousin Hanameel visited him, the word of the LORD came Jeremiah to purchase the field that was in Anathoth.  Jeremiah had been saying for a long time the nation of Israel was going to fall before king Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian army.  If all the land was going to be under the rule of Babylon and the inhabitants taken into captivity to Babylon, what was be the point of buying land?  God had a point to make by making a promise beyond price.

When Hanameel came to Jeremiah and asked him to buy the land in Anathoth because the right of redemption was his, it confirmed the word God had already spoke to Jeremiah.  In the presence of witnesses he weighed out 17 shekels of silver, a very small amount of money for a parcel of land, and the details of the sale were written down.  According to the current rate of exchange, 79 grams of silver is valued at about $45 USD.  Jeremiah handed the receipt to Baruch, and Jeremiah 32:13-15 explains the reason behind this odd land purchase:  "Then I charged Baruch before them, saying, ¹⁴ 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Take these deeds, both this purchase deed which is sealed and this deed which is open, and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may last many days." ¹⁵ For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land."'

What some saw as a financially dumb decision was actually wisdom at work as it illustrated a promise God would be faithful to keep.  Even as the title deed was preserved in an earthen vessel, God promised that "Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land."  The time of captivity in Babylon would be long, but God would keep His word.  God would cause them to return to the land He had given His people by lot according to their tribes and families as an inheritance.  The children of Israel would again settle down and be sheltered in their own land where they would work fruitful fields, tend vines and harvest grapes pressed into new wine.  A land currently marred by violence and made desolate would be possessed again by God's people He would preserve and cause to return--even as the title deed was safely stored in an earthen vessel.

People would have given all the shekels of silver they possessed and even go into debt for that promise to be presently fulfilled, yet for the price of 17 shekels God provided proof of His gracious care in the present and future.  God would bring them back in due time, for He is always faithful to keep His word without fail.  How grateful I am God provides us assurance of His care in this life and for eternity!  The resurrection of Jesus from the dead and His ascension confirms He is able to forgive sinners, deliver us from death and grant us eternal life with Him in heaven by His grace.  No matter how difficult circumstances may be now, we have assurance God will keep Christians and present us faultless before the Father with exceeding joy (Jude 24-25).  For the follower of Jesus Christ we have assurance that the best is yet to come for all eternity.