Adonai Will Bring Them Back – Jeremiah 31:8

Growing with God: A daily devotional with Tonia Slimm.

Jeremiah 31:8 (NIV)

“See, I will bring them from the land of the north and gather them from the ends of the earth. Among them will be the blind and the lame, expectant mothers and women in labor; a great throng will return.”

Jeremiah 31:8 (MSG)

“Watch what comes next: “I’ll bring my people back from the north country and gather them up from the ends of the earth, gather those who’ve gone blind and those who are lame and limping, gather pregnant women, even the mothers whose birth pangs have started, bring them all back, a huge crowd!”

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“Watch what comes next: “I’ll bring my people back from the north country and gather them up from the ends of the earth, gather those who’ve gone blind and those who are lame and limping, gather pregnant women, even the mothers whose birth pangs have started, bring them all back, a huge crowd!” -AMPLIFIED

“Notice the prayer and the answer. The prayer is put into our mouths, and before we hardly have time to utter it, the answer comes: “O Lord, save thy people, the remnant of Israel. Behold, I will bring them” How can they come? Will they help one another? God himself will be eyes to the blind and feet to the lame.” ~Charles Spurgeon

As we looked at yesterday’s text, we were reminded of the need to sing for joy and give thanks to the Lord. God’s Message to Israel:

“For this is what the Lord says: “Sing with joy for Jacob; shout for the foremost of the nations!
Proclaim, praise, and say, “Lord, save your people, the remnant of Israel!” -Jeremiah 31:7 (CSB)

And as we look to today’s passage, we find the Lord revealing a vision of what He would do for His people, and who it would affect.

“Watch now, as I bring them from the land to the north, as I gather My people from the ends of the earth. Look who is among those returning home: the blind and the lame, expectant mothers and even those giving birth—All of these together in the multitude on its way home.” -(VOICE)

The Lord had instructed the people, in the last verse, to pray for Him to save His people. And His answer to that prayer not only comes quickly, but with amazing detail and specifications.

The Lord instructs the people to watch. They were to be watching and attentive to what He would do.

• “Watch!” -(CSB)
• “See what I will do!” -(EASY)
• “Look, I will soon bring them…” -(EXB)
• “See, I am bringing them…” -(NLV)
• “Behold, I will bring them…” -(WEB)

The Lord would do the work that needed to be done in order to bring about the restoration of His people. And when He did, they would come not only from the North, where the Babylonians and Assyrians had taken them, but they would come from the farthest parts of the earth. And no one would be excluded. All would be welcome, even the blind, the lame, the mother with her young child, and the mother about to give birth.

This passage echoes something that Isaiah wrote about the time of the Lord’s restoration and the return of His people to their homeland:

“Imagine the wilderness whooping for joy,
    the desert’s unbridled happiness with its spring flowers.
It will happen! The deserts will come alive with new growth budding and blooming,
    singing and celebrating with sheer delight.
The glory of Lebanon’s cedars and the majesty of Carmel and Sharon
    will spill over to the deserts.
The glory of the Eternal One will be on full display there,
    and they will revel in the majestic splendor of our God. So, with confidence and hope in this message,
    strengthen those with feeble hands, shore up the weak-kneed and weary.
Tell those who worry, the anxious and fearful,
    “Take strength; have courage! There’s nothing to fear.
Look, here—your God! Right here is your God!
    The balance is shifting; God will right all wrongs.
None other than God will give you success.
    He is coming to make you safe.”  Then, such healing, such repair: the eyes of the blind will be opened;
    the ears of the deaf will be clear.
The lame will leap like deer excited;
    they will run and jump tirelessly and gracefully.
The stutterer, the stammerer, and the tongue of the mute
    will sing out loud and clear in joyful song.
Waters will pour through the deserts;
    streams will flow in godforsaken lands.
Burning sands and hardened wastelands will become pools, shimmering with life;
    the thirsty ground will drink deep from refreshing springs.
Abandoned villages where predators once lurked will become grassy playgrounds.
    Dry, arid land will turn lush and green. And the road to this happy renovation will be clearly signed.
    People will declare the way itself to be holy—the route, “sacred.”
Only those who are right with God
    will be able to walk its pleasant path,
And nobody—no visitor, no dimwit—will get lost along it.
There’ll be no lions lying in wait, no predators or dangers in sight.
    Only those made right with God will journey there.
Those whom the Eternal One has recalled from a punishing exile,
    they will go along so easily. They will walk this path,
Come waltzing to Zion, singing their way
    to that place of right relation to God.
An aura of joy never-ending will attend them;
    they will clasp gladness and joy to their hearts,
While sadness and despair evaporate into thin air.” -Isaiah 35 (VOICE)

“A great number of Israelites of all types would return to the Promised Land from all over the world, not just from the north where they went into Assyrian and Babylonian captivity. The disadvantaged as well as the able-bodied would come, even pregnant women and those about to give birth. If the Lord would bring even these dependent types of people back, there was hope for all.” ~Thomas Constable

As is often the case with many of these prophecies, we know that they apply to two instances. First, the miracle that happened in 1948, when Israel was once again established and recognized as a Jewish state in the ancient homeland. Secondly, as amazingly wonderful as that is, it is not the total fulfillment of this promise. One day, during the Millennial reign, the people will have repentant hears, and Jesus, their Messiah will lead them. The following verse speaks of this:

“Listen, as they come home weeping and repenting, praying for direction, pleading for mercy as I bring them back. In that day I will lead them beside quiet streams of water and take them upon a straight path where they will not stumble. Why? Because I am Israel’s father, and Ephraim is My firstborn son.” -Jeremiah 31:9 (VOICE)

Adonai will bring about the restoration of His people. He will bring them home.

“For I will bring them from the north and from earth’s farthest ends, not forgetting their blind and lame, young mothers with their little ones, those ready to give birth. It will be a great company who comes.” -(TLB)

“Behold, I will bring them: God promised to gather the Jewish people from all over the earth, a gathering so complete that even the blind and the lame come; a great throng shall return there. The there is not merely a returning to Yahweh, it is also a returning to the land. The promise of the land remains for Israel.” ~David Guzik

Have you been praying for a prodigal? A child, grandchild, family member, or friend, who has wandered from the Lord? If you have been, and we should be praying for these people, do not give up on them. Do not lose hope. Scripture contains many passages that remind us that God has not given up on them, and He is working on their hearts for the sole purpose of bringing them home to Him. Take note:

 “When they are lost, I will seek them and bring back every last stray. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak. However, I will destroy the fat and powerful. I will feed them a healthy portion of judgment.” -Ezekiel 34:16 (VOICE)

“A shepherd in charge of 100 sheep notices that one of his sheep has gone astray. What do you think he should do? Should the shepherd leave the flock on the hills unguarded to search for the lost sheep? God’s shepherd goes to look for that one lost sheep, and when he finds her, he is happier about her return than he is about the 99 who stayed put. Your Father in heaven does not want a single one of the tripped, waylaid, stumbling little ones to be lost.” -Matthew 18:12-14 (VOICE)

“It is for us to begin. If we take one step towards the Lord, he takes ten towards us — he who saw the prodigal son while he was at a distance, and had compassion and ran and embraced him.” ~Tito Colliander 

“For God expressed His love for the world in this way: He gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not face everlasting destruction, but will have everlasting life.” -John 3:16 (VOICE)

“Never cease loving a person, and never give up hope for him, for even the prodigal son who had fallen most low, could still be saved; the bitterest enemy and also he who was your friend could again be your friend; love that has grown cold can kindle.” ~Søren Kierkegaard

“We have cause to celebrate because the grace of God has appeared, offering the gift of salvation to all people. Grace arrives with its own instruction: run away from anything that leads us away from God; abandon the lusts and passions of this world; live life now in this age with awareness and self-control, doing the right thing and keeping yourselves holy. Watch for His return; expect the blessed hope we all will share when our great God and Savior, Jesus the Anointed, appears again. He gave His body for our sakes and will not only break us free from the chains of wickedness, but He will also prepare a community uncorrupted by the world that He would call His own—people who are passionate about doing the right thing.” -Titus 2:11-14 (VOICE)

“I looked again and could hardly believe my eyes. Everything above me was new. Everything below me was new. Everything around me was new because the heaven and earth that had been passed away, and the sea was gone, completely. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride on her wedding day, adorned for her husband and for His eyes only. And I heard a great voice, coming from the throne. A Voice: See, the home of God is with His people. He will live among them; they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them. The prophecies are fulfilled: He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning no more, crying no more, pain no more, for the first things have gone away.” -Revelation 21:1-4 (VOICE)

“I have come to know a God who has a soft spot for rebels, who recruits people like the adulterer David, the whiner Jeremiah, the traitor Peter, and the human-rights abuser Saul of Tarsus. I have come to know a God whose Son made prodigals the heroes of his stories and the trophies of his ministry.” ~Philip Yancey

My friend, keep praying for those prodigals. Do not lose hope, because God has not given up on them. He is at work in their hearts. His love for them is strong, and His deepest desire is to lead them home to Him.

“It takes courage to watch the horizon and stay focused on your prodigal’s return, courage to keep hoping and praying, despite knowing they’re still a long way off. It takes courage only God can provide to overcome the rage, despair, dread and injustice you feel. Yet, isn’t that what faith truly means? Believing in a future we can’t yet see? Our Father God is standing on the horizon, holding out His hand. He’s inviting you and me to watch the rising sun with Him, where His mercies are new every morning. On the worst of days, He alone holds us up as helplessness looms large. He’s right there by our side, urging us to keep watching the horizon with hope.” ~Sarah Geringer

My Prayer:

Adonai Elohim, my Great Lord, your love for your children, even for the prodigals, is so amazing. I have a few prodigals in my life, Lord, and my heart breaks when I look at them. They have wandered far from you and from home. They are experiencing tough times, and they are trying to face challenges that they were never meant to face alone. Lord, please remind them today that you love them. Speak words of hope and encouragement to their hearts. Remind them that you care deeply for them, and you are only a whisper away. Please, place a hedge of protection around them, and turn their wandering hearts back to you. Thank you, Lord.