The Jesus Bible Reading PlanSample

THE HOPE AND SAVIOR OF ISRAEL

Judah experienced a terrible drought that greatly affected both people and animals. Wells dried up and the land, parched and cracked, would not produce food. Jeremiah asked God to mercifully intervene even though the people had sinned (Jer 14:7). God’s silence in their situation felt like God’s absence from their lives. Jeremiah prayed with informed faith, acknowledging that God was “the hope of Israel” and “its Savior in times of distress” (v. 8). Many times before, God had proven his power by rescuing the people from trouble. Jeremiah asked him to do so again.

Between the days of the Old Testament and the era of the New Testament, some 400 years went by without a word from God. The people longed for the spiritual drought to end — they were desperate for God to speak or move (Lk 2:25). Jesus came into these dark and dry times to bring light and life (Jn 1:4). He was and is the answer to the hope of all nations; a Savior who brings the possibility of grace and eternal life to all people (2Ti 1:9 – 10).

Jesus, sometimes it seems I am living in a spiritual drought. I look around and I don’t see love, peace, faith or hope. Help me to remember in these times that you are still in control and that the future you’ve planned is perfect. Amen.