Go.
"Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Like these good figs, so I will regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I have sent away from this place to the land of the Chaldeans. I will set my eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up, and not tear them down; I will plant them, and not pluck them up. I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart."
(Jeremiah 24:5-7)
"Should I stay or should I go?" sang The Clash. Great question. At various times in our lives, we've all been faced with this question, haven't we? To stay or leave a job? To commit to or end a relationship? To move or stay put? Oftentimes, these are very difficult decisions.
Imagine a scenario where foreign superpowers are about to attack the city you've lived in all your life The King has promised to defend and protect you. Some of the leading "spiritual guides" in the city have vowed that God will defend you. But one "pastor" in particular has said the exact OPPOSITE: God won't protect you if you stay. In fact, God WANTS you to leave - to surrender to the superpower and willingly be taken from your home. How hard would it be to follow the advice of that one lone pastor?
That's what happened in ancient Israel. The Babylonians were closing in on Jerusalem. Everyone who was anyone said, "Stay and fight! God is with us!" Everyone, that is, except the prophet Jeremiah. He preached the unpopular message: "Surrender! Leave! God will be with you... ONLY if you go into exile!" In fact, God uses the object lesson of a basket of figs - some good, some rotten. The "good" figs are those who left. The "bad" figs are those who chose to stay. WOW!
No one wants to hear the call to surrender. We're brought up in a culture where "standing up for yourself" and "not letting others push you around" are key tenants. "YOU CAN DO IT!" we cry. "FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHTS!" "SHOW THEM WHAT YOU'RE MADE OF!" These are all rallying cries.
And yet... could it be... that sometimes... it just might be better to give in?!? To surrender? To go where you may not want to go!?
God used the exile to "reboot" the hearts of the people. To help them reset and recenter their lives. To help them turn to God and not rely on their own strength. Those who stayed in Jerusalem wouldn't have access to the blessing that those who went into exile would have. Go figure.
Keep me open, God... even to unpopular messages... messages that may go against my "common sense"... IF (and it's a big 'if')... if they truly come from you. AMEN.