R.I.P.
“Thus says the LORD, “The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness – Israel, when it went to find its rest.” Jeremiah 31:2 NASB
Rest – Did Israel go into the wilderness to find rest? Or did the people go into the wilderness to find fleeting endurance? Unfortunately, the true sense of this verse in Jeremiah may never be known since the Hebrew word rāgaʿ has both contradictory meanings. Scholars have struggled for years to find a common thread that would explain this unusual situation. Bible translations take very different approaches to handling this difficult word. In some cases, they actually ignore the word entirely. In others they translate the word according to the best interpretation of context. But there is no uniformity about its use. So, we are entitled to ask, “Is this verse in Jeremiah about ‘rest’ or about ‘momentary action’?” Jeremiah 50:34 uses rāgaʿ as “rest,” but Jeremiah 50:44 uses rāgaʿ as “stir up.” And so it goes throughout the occurrences in the Old Testament.
What does this verse in Jeremiah really suggest? Did Israel go into the wilderness after surviving the sword in order to find rest? Or did they go thinking that they would find momentary reprieve? Did they go looking for fleeting life, a quick end to their troubles? Or did they go searching for permanent and lasting calm?
We are pressed by the same linguistic confusion. Why do we go into the desert? Are we there searching for a quick end to our pain, hoping that fleeing to the land where no man can stand on his own will bring about the termination of a life we can no longer live? Or do we go to the wilderness because we realize that God’s grace in desperate places is the only source of real rest and peace? Are we Hagar or Elijah?
If I were to guess, I would say that Jeremiah suggests that we do not seek the desolate places because we know God will meet us there. I would say that we seek the places where no man can live because we are ready to give up, to end it all quickly. We are looking for an instant solution, even if that means the end of life. We want it to be over.
That’s why we find grace only in hindsight. We didn’t go there expecting God to arrive on the scene. We went looking for the final way out, and God gave us grace to endure. We discovered “rest” was not termination. It was submission.
Why did you go to the wilderness?
Topical Index: rāgaʿ, rest, stir up, reprieve, escape, Jeremiah 31:2
Hello folks sublimation that’s the best word I can come up with also, having nowhere else to turn I might as well turn to God also like the others in the past. God has never let them down, nor will he let me down either, for I have attempted to be faithful to the end. It is also a step of faith, just like in the past, and also in the future, God is faithful. Has David had said I have never seen the righteous forsaken nor have I seen their seed out begging for bread. Going into the desert place. Is exactly what God wants us walking out where we haven’t been before come up out of our comfort zone, so to speak. That’s where I must rely on God. The narrow road oh, this is what I have come to no it as. It gets easier and easier to go there, for me the trouble is… How did I get to the place where I can run there. For me, as of late friends are being eaten up torn down pushed aside, but yet will I seek him. B. B.
“We discovered “rest” was not termination. It was submission.” That rang so true with me today! Thank you, Skip!
This is what I love about the Bible. Because it was written in the right Spirit – the Spirit that enlivens the truth in all of us – we can share vicariously in that truth: it comes alive (is regenerated in us) in our lives and rings true in our own experience. Not only that, each one of us, in our unique experience, ‘hears’ that ring a little differently. I think this is the real reason we can’t use ‘proof texts’: the truth gets lived in each of us as a slightly different facet of the diamond. Our faces look out on different landscapes, yet the truth still works no matter what landscape of life we are looking at. And it all harmonizes! When our spiritual ears are tuned to heavenly frequencies, the truth will always be in tune with itself, no matter what it is ‘saying’ to each and every one of us. This is the true Spirit behind the inspiration of the Word of God, breathed through fallible man. It transcends the vessel and channels the thoughts of God to us so that we can sing it – live it in our lives – too, along with Him. I love it! Halleluah!
Hmmm….. usually when I read today’s word I read through it fairly rapidly and then I go back over it slowly, seeking enlightenment and some understanding. What does the Holy Spirit want to speak into my heart today?
I got, a bit of a zinger from the last paragraph. The thought turned into, maybe he wants to turn my wilderness into a rich territory for me?!
Maybe instead of trying to escape the wilderness, the wilderness becomes a place of productivity? Even in the promised land they were faced with challenges, well established enemies, etc. maybe instead of trying to escape I need to engage? Maybe there is a part of us that is always looking to get through, get past, get over instead of allowing this place that I’m at to become a place where God is manifest. Transformation. Just a thought but it gives me mojo to move forward instead of just enduring or escaping. There is a story in there I believe where God tells them that they are supposed to put down their roots, stop acting like visitors and inhabit the land! It becomes a totally different perspective. I really needed this today and as Laurita says, God has the ability to speak directly into my specific situation.
It makes the projection my day a lot different and a lot more helpful. Thank you Skip. Thank you Jesus. Thank you group.
AMEN. A newbie and learning ( and dare I say unlearning) so much. Thank you Lord for leading me to this site, and thank you Skip for your obedience. Thanks to all for your encouragement, Gods word tells us to encourage one another daily, so thank you.
I found The verses or chapter I was talking about. Jeremiah 29. Interestingly verse 4 says that “ God sent them into exile “. Then in verse 6, he says, “ multiply there and do not decrease “. Then, in verse 7, he says, “for in it’s welfare you will find your welfare”.
Of course then, it builds into the crescendo of the verse we all know so well, verse 11 !
So instead of giving up, becoming passive, we have an assignment from God. Can’t tell you how much I appreciate the ministry of the Holy Spirit. He will lead us into all truth. He will instruct us and teach us. If we lack wisdom he gives it to us liberally without resenting us because we tend to be so slow and resistant . He knows our frame he remembers that we are but dust ! I really needed this encouragement this morning, this impetus ! I hope it makes a bit of sense to someone else.
When you pass through the valley of Baca (valley of tears), make for yourselves pools of refreshing. This scripture in Ps.84:6 Verse 6. Make it a well. That which seemed an impediment turns to furtherance, at least, no misery can be so great, no estate so barren, but a godly heart can make it a well, out of which to draw forth water of comfort; either water to cleanse, and make it a way to repentance; or water to cool, and make it a way to patience; or water to moisten, and make it a way to growing in grace; and if the well happen to be dry, and afford no water from below, yet the rain shall fill their pools, and supply them with water from above. If natural forces are not sufficient, there shall be supernatural graces added to assist them, that though troubles of the world seem rubs in the way to blessedness, yet in truth they are none, they hinder not arriving at the mark we aim at, they hinder us not from being made members on Sion, they hinder us not from approaching the presence of God. No, my soul, they are rather helps, for by the means we go from strength to strength, from strength of patience, to strength of hope; from strength of hope, to strength of faith, to strength of vision; and then will be accomplished that which David speaks here; Blessed is the man whose strength is in God, and in whose heart his ways are. Sir Richard Baker
I was taught that We dig that well with praise and worship in the middle of the dry and thirsty land where there is no water. We can choose to make is an oasis, easy?: No…doable?: Yes.
Perhaps the best answer to today’s question
lies with Yeshua. “Come to me, all you who are
weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
The timing is NOW — come now. Come with the
full intension of submitting your old life to His
new life which He freely gives.
This requires one’s full acknowledgement that they
are doing so because of genuine spiritual revelation,
and full and complete understanding that it is a gift
you are receiving and a gift you are to allow to work
through you via your loving obedience. Make no
mistake . . . this is His doing! And His yoke is easy;
it’s the actual empowerment of the Holy Spirit which is
the only power that can provide true rest for your soul
now . . . and forever more.
I didn’t go willingly. I didn’t even know I was going in. Wanting to follow Yeshua brought me there unknowingly. If I had known, I would have probably diverted. The un-psychological ways of God. Who knew God would use the dessert to heal? I know its necessary, but I don’t always like the methods to bring it about.
I subconsciously used the word “dessert” instead of “desert” – maybe there is a true sweetness to the process?
“Why did you go to the wilderness?”
It seems to me that the question presumes one is volunteering or willfully choosing to go to the desert; that it is an act of one’s volition. Perhaps that is true for some, but not necessarily for everyone. It’s been my experience that I was “driven” to the desert and no one asked for my permission.
The question seems to further suggest that the desert is an intended destination. Again, that might actually be true for some folks, but not for everyone.
Rabbi Robert Gorelik speaks of Israel’s Wilderness in terms of the “in between time,” much like twilight or daybreak. It’s a time that is neither day or night, night or day. It’s that in between time — the moment or season between where one has left and where one is going. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks speaks about this Wilderness experience and comments that “leaving” is easier than “entering,” thus the value or purpose of the desert is to transition from one to the other.
Transition is not easy for anyone. It is terrifying for many and especially for those who have had an adverse childhood or who suffer from post-traumatic stress. For these folks the past is not past, and simply changing one’s geographical address doesn’t make the journey less difficult.
While I have never intentionally chosen to move to the desert, I do live in one. That’s because I was drawn to one of the desert’s oasis, but that is another story. In truth, my desert experiences, including my present one, has been to support my transition from night to day, my transformation from trauma to resiliency. My desert is my in between time that is empowering and enabling me to not only successfully leave where I’ve been stuck, but even more to guide my entrance to where my purpose is leading me.
Baruch HaShem!
Ultimately we must decide whether faith is a means to an end or an end itself.
I definitely didn’t go into my Wilderness voluntarily. Instead, I went in kicking and screaming.
Only in hindsight do I see that YHVH put me there to teach me things… things that I wasn’t learning in the chaotic City.
And only then did i quit kicking and screaming.
Too bad it took so long.