![]() Apply this verse directly to your life: “But Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, ‘Behold, my brother Esau is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man.’” (Genesis 27:11). God’s Message to Me Interpretation 2: Because it’s part of God’s Word, Jeremiah 29:11 is God’s direct message to me about my circumstances today.īecause something is in the Bible, and all of the Bible is God’s Word, some people assume all of it directly applies to their present situation. But the following four principles will help us better understand how to interpret this verse. ![]() We can’t interpret Jeremiah 29:11 to mean God will materially prosper us. What about John the Baptist (Matthew 14), Stephen (Acts 8), and the apostle James (Acts 12) who died because of their faith in God-not to mention present-day martyrs? God does not always deliver his people from earthly peril. Jesus promises his followers trouble and difficulty. But take heart I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 ESV). Jesus says, “In the world you will have tribulation. Nowhere in the New Testament are followers of Jesus promised physical comfort or financial security-just the opposite. So our interpretation of one passage of the Bible must agree with other passages. Principle #1: Scripture interprets Scripture.īecause the Holy Spirit inspired all of the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16), it speaks with one consistent voice. If we make these kinds of false promises to people, we may lead them to blame God for not delivering on his “promises”-promises he never made. This conclusion that God wants to bless us with health and wealth does not align with the rest of the Bible’s teaching and is dangerous. Deuteronomy 28:1-14), some people assume that material blessing is God’s will for Christians today. A Message of Temporal Prosperity Interpretation 1: God is going to “prosper” me in this life with financial success, physical well-being, mental and emotional stability, and so on.īecause in the old covenant, God promised Israel material prosperity during Moses’ leadership (e.g. Here are five ways this verse is understood today, paired with five principles for how to properly understand and apply any Old Testament passage to your life today. The verse has brought comfort to countless people who have gone through difficulties and wondered why God has allowed hard things to happen to them. ![]() ![]() There are few verses from the Bible more often recited than Jeremiah 29:11. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” ![]()
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