«I WILL GIVE YOUR LIFE TO YOU”
» ‘Behold, I will bring adversity on all Flesh,’ says the Lord. ’But I will give your life to you as a prize’“ (Jeremiah 45:5).
How would we define someone who has been blessed by God? I asked myself that question as I reflected on the story of Baruch, the prophet Jeremiah’s noble scribe.
Baruch came from a well-to-do family in Jerusalem.* The fact he was a scribe suggests he was an educated person. His brother Seraiah led the delegation that accompanied King Zedekiah to Babylon. What’s more, he had such a great reputation that when the prophet Jeremiah was forbidden from entering the temple, Baruch was able to go in. By the way, in 1975 a collection of clay seals was found in Israel and among them there was one that said, «Baruch son of Neriah the scribe.» A good family, a good job, a good reputation, what more could he want? In fact, the name Baruch means “blessed by the Lord.»
However, in the year 604 BC, things began to change in Baruch’s life. Jeremiah called him and asked him to write the words God had sent the kingdom of Judah in a book. Baruch did so. His message infuriated the king so much that he had the book burned and ordered Baruch and Jeremiah to be imprisoned. Then people started to criticize him and labeled him an instigator, and in the end, he had to go live in Egypt. Persecuted, criticized, and exiled, was he still blessed?
Overwhelmed by problems and hardships, Baruch lamented, «Woe to me! The Lord has added sorrow to my pain; I am worn out with groaning and find no rest” (Jeremiah 45:3, NIV). His situation brings to mind the psalmist’s words: «I am weary with my groaning; all night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears” (Psalm 6:6). I have felt like that; you might be feeling that way this very minute.
And for those dark times there is nothing better than the light that shines from God’s promise. The Lord strengthened Baruch with this promise: » ‘Behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh,’ says the Lord. ‘But I will give your life to you as a prize’ “ (Jeremiah 45:5). Accepting this promise will change our «Woe to me! “ relieve our pain, and put an end to our groaning.
That divine life is what makes us feel blessed regardless of the circumstances through which we may be going. Don’t ever forget it—whether in good times or bad.
» Jack R. Lundbom, ‘Baruch (Person), “ed. David Noel Freedman, The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (New York: Doubleday, 1992), p. 617.
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Taken from: Devotional Readings for Adults 2023
“I AM WITH YOU”
From: J. VLADIMIR POLANCO
Collaborators: Lorina Maya & Avineyda Hernandez