Our Heavenly Father's Desire

1 day ago
3 min read

Having spent most of our time listening to Prophet Ezekiel, as this was our main thrust, we now look to Prophet Jeremiah. Our mission remains the same, in that we are receiving what God, our heavenly Father, has categorically stated about this popular saying. The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge. This specific text, as quoted earlier in the week, has been quoted again for you. I will watch over them to build and to plant, says the LORD. In those days they shall say no more: The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge. Jeremiah 31: 28b – 29.

Before we delve into our receiving, there is a consideration, no, more than a consideration, but a deep heart-stirring and heart-moving conviction that comes upon us. It is that which comes from the heading of this offering. As we read this heading, these things hit directly home. O how we are brought low!

The heading lets us know that: -

It is all about what our heavenly Father desires for us and not about what we desire for ourselves.

It is definitely all about what He desires of us and not what we desire of Him.

Just hearing this, and more even, breaks me down and humbles me low. What about you? Who can convict and convince us like the Holy Spirit? The heading brings us to a correct image about ourselves and gives us perfect, earthly leverage, to see who our Heavenly Father is, in relation to any kind of fatherly love and care we might have had, or still have. It takes us beyond any testimonies of children about their human, loving, caring fathers who sacrificed all for them. No human father, regardless of how good and saintly he might be, can ever hope to have desires for his children as Father God has for all His children. The desire of God as Father for us comes from love which by-passes and over-passes any father’s desires for his offspring.

What then does Father God desire for His children? Everything good and right and just and true, you may say. Perfectly true! Our Father wants only the very best for us, according to Him, not according to us.

In this setting however, where the saying concerning children being punished for their parent’s transgressions, is growing and being reproduced over and over again, we must look at the desire of God. From the onset, it’s there in our main text. In those days they shall say no more. Jeremiah 31: 29a. Have you heard it? Have you seen it? For however long this proverb has been in use, God does not want it said, believed or acted upon any more. His expressed desire is for this talk, this belief, to cease.

His desire is so strong about it being totally eradicated from among His children, that He does the work Himself of having it removed. In all that He will do in His repentant children, and for them, individually and as a family, the obsoleteness of this proverb will come to pass. Indeed! When the children see their heavenly Father’s pardon and posterity, how He has forgiven them and is prospering them in every way, and the manner in which He is doing it, at that, they will know that the old saying cannot hold sway anymore. I will watch over them to build and to plant.

The desire of the Lord for His children is a rod and staff love; a punishing and commending love; a breaking down and building up love. His love functions in completeness. Note the words of God to His children, through the prophet Jeremiah. And it shall come to pass, that as I have watched over them to pluck up, to break down, to throw down, to destroy, and to afflict, so I will watch over them to build and to plant, says the LORD. Jeremiah 31: 28.

The Lord desires nothing but holiness and righteousness for His repentant children. It is the holiness that wants them to be His and His alone, holy unto Him, so that all will see and know that they belong to Him. He wants them to be righteous as He is righteous, bearing His righteous fruit. How is this to be accomplished by them? This is possible only through God Himself who will watch over His children and plant them to His pride, delight and pleasure.