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Many Christians have this practice of looking through the Bible for sentences that look like promises and claiming them from God, and getting disappointed when things don't work out. For example, some take what God promised to the people of Israel in a special situation that they had to just stand there and see the salvation of God, to excuse their inaction and irresponsibility to do what God has told them (Ex.14:13). Then other people point out one of the rules of interpreting the Bible that we should examine the context of the verse to ascertain whether it is applicable to us or to someone else in a particular situation.

But then some people apply this rule literally and avoid trusting in some promises of God that are applicable to us. The case in point is Jer.29:11, "For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." If we look at the beginning of the chapter we can see that this is addressed to the people of Judah who had been exiled to Babylon by God Himself for their backsliding and idolatry. Once we see this context and identify the people to whom the promise is given, shall we automatically say it does not apply to us?

Judah had sinned and turned away from God, and even after they witnessed what happened to Israel ('her sister'), they had not turned back to God (Ez.23:11). Then God had to go to the extreme step of disowning them and handing them over to a cruel master, Babylon. This promise, given to them in such a situation, shows us the heart of God, His character. We see the same heart revealed in a more general way, as a part of the laws of God in Lev.26. There God warns the people how He would punish them if they disobeyed His commandments. But there is a very revealing sequence here. If one level of punishment did not turn the people back to God, He would raise the level of punishment a notch up, and so on. What comes through is not how strong God's punishment can be, but that in all this harsh punishment He gave them, His hope was that it would make them sit up, take notice, repent and turn back to Him! That is the heart of God. He does not take any delight in punishing people, but in His love for people He does not give up on them but keeps on hoping they would turn back to Him.

When we see this in this perspective, we can see that this is as applicable to us as His people as it was to Israel and Judah. God's plans for us are for our welfare, and not for our calamity. Even in punishment or chastisement, it is His love that moves Him (He.12:6). His chastisement comes from a heart that is unwilling to see His children suffer, but only because He hopes that at least that will help us to turn back to Him. His plans are for our welfare and future and not for our calamity.

When we read the Bible, let us not approach it as a book of rules but as a means through which we can get to know our Father and His ways better.

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