Stepping Through Opened Doors

“I prayed to the Lord, saying: ‘Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.’”

– Jeremiah 32:16-17

Jeremiah was in prison, and God just told him to purchase a piece of land from Hanamel, his cousin. Property was not to leave the family, and Leviticus twenty-five tells us that the Promised Land was sacred. It is believed that Jeremiah’s cousin went to others in the family that were in line to purchase the property first, and they declined. So Hanamel now comes to Jeremiah.

The plot of land he was purchasing was in the midst of a battlefield. This land would seem worthless at this time because it was destroyed and overtaken by Babylon. In standard terms, this purchase was a poor investment, and Hanamel probably thought he made the easiest money ever. But this was something that God placed upon Jeremiah’s heart to do, and he was obedient to God, even though it looked ridiculous to everyone else. G. Campbell Morgan said, “When the call is followed by the open door, we need to have no hesitation.” No matter how illogical or ridiculous it may seem, we must trust God and His plan and move forward.

Although Jeremiah was obedient, he was human and had doubts. Rather than running to everyone for counsel, however, he prayed to God. He did not fully understand why God would have him make this purchase; it was unclear. When the Lord answered Jeremiah’s prayer, God told him it would be priceless one day because He would restore it! And Jeremiah’s obedience was a sign from God to His people that although they seemed worthless then, they would be restored once again.

Maybe God is asking you to do something that does not seem wise or logical in the world’s estimation. Have you held back from being obedient as a result? Do not hesitate to obey if God has spoken to your heart and opened the door.

“Let us attempt great things, for those who believe in the Name of the Lord succeed beyond all expectation. By faith, the worker lives.”

– C. H. Spurgeon