Essence Before Action: Exiled Yet Still Belonging (Part 1)

Scripture — Jeremiah 29:1-7 (NRSV)

These are the words of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the remaining elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. This was after King Jeconiah and the queen mother, the court officials, the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the artisans, and the smiths had departed from Jerusalem. The letter was sent by the hand of Elasah son of Shaphan and Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom King Zedekiah of Judah sent to Babylon to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. It said: Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

Devotion

It does not require a lot of imagination to think of a recipient of a letter who would struggle to hear words like “exile,” “departed,” and “sent.” Nobody likes to be evicted, laid off, dismissed, or to hear the words, “your service is no longer needed.” Especially when you have to own the responsibility for it.

Even if you have done nothing wrong, it is still difficult to deal with the feeling that you are an exile. I have dear friends who have been promoted to new leadership positions and have tried to reconcile the joy of being in a new position with the tension of those around them who are producing various kinds of exile. “That’s not how your predecessor did it,” is a useless exile. The statement “How did you get the position?” is an invaluable exile. The “I could lead better” is an unwanted exile. All are snap judgments on a neighbor who hasn’t set their feet on the floor or their boxes in the office yet.

There is an objective question for either situation: Who is behind the curtain calling and sending us? And who are you pursuing? Noah was sent to lead humanity into (re)newed lands. Abraham was sent from Ur. Sarah was sent from barren lands to lead her child. Joseph was sent from entry-level to senior leadership and back and forth. Balaam’s mishandling of his position caused him to be sent away by a donkey. God sends and draws in different ways. In the case of the Israelites, God sends a letter.

With one salutation, God established everything they needed to remember. And what they have forgotten is what got them there:_ to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon._ You are exiled, but you are still Israel. You still belong.

God sent the Israelites to Babylon, even if it is just in a letter from Jeremiah. A clever method to encourage. A means of trying to lift their spirits in their difficult situation. A diplomatic word with the intent of keeping them out of trouble as they head into a culture where they are not in control. This letter was penned by Jeremiah and written with God, and God’s leadership is not passive. God sent them into exile because God was forming them. They aren’t whole yet. The potter is still creating the hearts of his people. And God showed them that exile is not the same thing as useless, invaluable, unwanted. The letter was a sign of the present Lord of hosts, the God of Israel.

Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: God’s Presence Everywhere (Jeremiah 29).