A FUTURE & A HOPE
Terry R. Baughman
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).
What does God think? We typically see God as a mover, one who acts, creates, and speaks. We may not see God as one who thinks.
Scripture reveals that God has thoughts. He has specific thoughts about His created beings. He revealed His thoughts toward Israel in captivity and spoke of His favorable thoughts toward them. He plans to bring them peace, deliverance from judgment, and hope for the future. Having experienced the judgment of God which took them from their homeland into a distant land of servitude, this must have been a real revelation. Not only that God was thinking about them, but that His thoughts were positive and He was planning for their deliverance and restoration.
The Psalmist proclaimed, “O Lord, how great are Your works! Your thoughts are very deep” (Psalm 92:5). The fact that God thinks and that He has “very deep” thoughts speaks of the character of God. He is not impulsive and reactionary. He does not just respond, but rather He has reflected on all events, the end from the beginning. Because nothing is hidden from Him, He is able to bring all the motives, actions, and intentions into the equation of His thoughts concerning any given situation.
God’s thoughts are beyond comprehension. It is impossible for us to fully understand the process of His thinking or the rationale of His Sovereignty. The prophet revealed the reason for this, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). Paul concurred when he said, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?’” (Romans 11:33–34). When we try to explain the thought processes of God we will fail. When we second guess God’s ways and critique His actions we become fools.
God is the source of all wisdom and knowledge. It should be no surprise that He would also excel in thoughts and plans. God will only reveal what He plans to reveal. He will only declare those things He chooses. Mark wrote, “For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light” (Mark 4:22). In spite of our best efforts to maintain privacy and protect secrecy there is one who knows it all before it happens. Luke declared, “For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops” (Luke 12:2–3).
People, in their foolishness, think they can hide things from God and protect the confidentiality of those who are complicit in their crimes. Though they may escape the penalty of the law and avoid detection by earthly authorities, there is a God in heaven who sees all and who knows all. Paul wrote, “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God” (1 Corinthians 4:5).
May God’s thoughts be toward you as they were to Israel. After our judgment may He grant us peace and give us a future filled with hope!
Scripture:
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).
Terry R. Baughman
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).
What does God think? We typically see God as a mover, one who acts, creates, and speaks. We may not see God as one who thinks.
Scripture reveals that God has thoughts. He has specific thoughts about His created beings. He revealed His thoughts toward Israel in captivity and spoke of His favorable thoughts toward them. He plans to bring them peace, deliverance from judgment, and hope for the future. Having experienced the judgment of God which took them from their homeland into a distant land of servitude, this must have been a real revelation. Not only that God was thinking about them, but that His thoughts were positive and He was planning for their deliverance and restoration.
The Psalmist proclaimed, “O Lord, how great are Your works! Your thoughts are very deep” (Psalm 92:5). The fact that God thinks and that He has “very deep” thoughts speaks of the character of God. He is not impulsive and reactionary. He does not just respond, but rather He has reflected on all events, the end from the beginning. Because nothing is hidden from Him, He is able to bring all the motives, actions, and intentions into the equation of His thoughts concerning any given situation.
God’s thoughts are beyond comprehension. It is impossible for us to fully understand the process of His thinking or the rationale of His Sovereignty. The prophet revealed the reason for this, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). Paul concurred when he said, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?’” (Romans 11:33–34). When we try to explain the thought processes of God we will fail. When we second guess God’s ways and critique His actions we become fools.
God is the source of all wisdom and knowledge. It should be no surprise that He would also excel in thoughts and plans. God will only reveal what He plans to reveal. He will only declare those things He chooses. Mark wrote, “For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light” (Mark 4:22). In spite of our best efforts to maintain privacy and protect secrecy there is one who knows it all before it happens. Luke declared, “For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops” (Luke 12:2–3).
People, in their foolishness, think they can hide things from God and protect the confidentiality of those who are complicit in their crimes. Though they may escape the penalty of the law and avoid detection by earthly authorities, there is a God in heaven who sees all and who knows all. Paul wrote, “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God” (1 Corinthians 4:5).
May God’s thoughts be toward you as they were to Israel. After our judgment may He grant us peace and give us a future filled with hope!
Scripture:
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).
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