Boast in the Lord – Jeremiah 32:21-22

Growing with God: A daily devotional with Tonia Slimm.

Jeremiah 32:21-22 (NIV)

“You brought your people Israel out of Egypt with signs and wonders, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with great terror. You gave them this land you had sworn to give their ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey.”

Jeremiah 32:21-22 (MSG)

“You brought your people Israel out of Egypt with signs and wonders—a powerful deliverance!—by merely stretching out your arm. You gave them this land and solemnly promised to their ancestors a bountiful and fertile land.”

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“You brought Your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders, with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm and with great terror; and gave them this land, which You swore to their forefathers to give them, a land [of plenty]flowing with milk and honey.” -AMPLIFIED

“You have brought Your people Israel out of the land of Egypt: Jeremiah recognized the particular love, favor, and work of God toward His people Israel. They were special objects of His power, mercy, and love.” ~David Guzik

In Jeremiah’s prayer, we found him reminding himself, his listeners, and the Lord of the fact that God is immutable, unchangeable. Jeremiah declares:

“You performed signs and wonders in the land of Egypt and still do today, both in Israel and among all mankind. You made a name for yourself, as is the case today.” -Jeremiah 32:20 (CSB)

And now we find Jeremiah boasting in what the Lord has done for Israel in the past:

“You rescued Your people Israel out of Egypt with miraculous signs and wonders—with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with a power too terrible for words. But You did not stop there, O gracious God. Then You gave them this land, the very land You had promised to their ancestors, an abundant land flowing with milk and honey.” -(VOICE)

We find Jeremiah speaking of and testifying of what the Lord’s goodness and faithfulness to Israel previously. Jeremiah begins bragging about the Lord. “See, this is what the Lord has done for us in the past!”

Jeremiah testifies to the fact that the Lord has:

• “You brought your people from Egypt with miraculous signs and amazing things, with a mighty hand and a powerful arm, and with great terror. ” -(NOG)
• “You gave them the land that you swore with an oath to give their ancestors, the land flowing with milk and honey.” -(NOG)

Jeremiah boasts that the Lord, in His mighty power, did exactly as He promised He would do in the past. Inferring that if He was able to do these things in the past, He could certainly do them again.

“You brought Israel out of Egypt with mighty miracles and great power and terror. You gave Israel this land that you promised their fathers long ago—a wonderful land that ‘flows with milk and honey.’” -(TLB)

“Those ancient Jews, in the time of their trouble, always looked gratefully back to the wonders wrought by Jehovah in Egypt. That great deed of God, when he smote the might of Pharaoh, was always present to the Hebrew mind; and the people, in every season of tribulation, refreshed themselves with the remembrance of it. Well, then, dear friends, as they sang the song of Moses, shall not we sing the song of the Lamb? Will not we go back in thought to the glorious triumphs of our Redeemer, and recount again and again, for the encouragement of our faith, what Christ did for us upon the tree, even as the Jews thought often, for the strengthening of their confidence, of their wondrous deliverance from Egypt by the high hand and the stretched out arm of Jehovah?” ~Charles Spurgeon

The Word of God reminds us that the Lord does not want us boasting in ourselves, our abilities, our belongings, or in our status. In fact, boasting in ourselves is labeled as wrong behavior:

“As it is, you are full of your grandiose selves. All such vaunting self-importance is evil. In fact, if you know the right thing to do and don’t do it, that, for you, is evil.” -James 4:16-17 (MSG)

But Scripture does encourage us to boast in what the Lord has done, and to testify of His goodness:

1.) “I will praise the Eternal in every moment through every situation. Whenever I speak, my words will always praise Him. Everything within me wants to pay tribute to Him. Whenever the poor and humble hear of His greatness, they will celebrate too!” -Psalm 34:1-2 (VOICE)

2.) Eternal One: “Let not the wise boast in their wisdom, nor the mighty in their strength, nor the rich in their wealth. Whoever boasts must boast in this: that he understands and knows Me. Indeed, I am the Eternal One who acts faithfully and exercises justice and righteousness on earth. These are the things that delight Me.” -Jeremiah 9:23-24 (VOICE)

3.) “As the Scripture says: “If someone wants to boast, he should boast in the Lord.”” -1 Corinthians 1:31 (VOICE)

4.)  “The one who boasts must boast in the Lord.”-2 Corinthians 10:17 (VOICE)

5.)  “Since we have been acquitted and made right through faith, we are able to experience true and lasting peace with God through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, the Liberating King. Jesus leads us into a place of radical grace where we are able to celebrate the hope of experiencing God’s glory.” -Romans 5:1-2 (VOICE)

“Because: *We were made to boast in God. *We were made to give him credit for all good. *We were made to rely on his power. *We were made to magnify his glory and his all sufficiency in our weakness. This is the source of all ultimate joy and satisfaction.” ~John Piper

My friend, if you must boast, do not boast in yourself, but boast in the Lord. Tell of His goodness. Speak of the blessings that He has poured into your life. Bear witness to the Lord’s faithfulness to you. “I will bear witness to Your merciful acts; throughout the day I will speak of all the ways You deliver, although, I admit, I do not know the entirety of either. I will come with stories of Your great acts, my Lord, the Eternal. I will remind them of Your justice, only Yours.” -Psalm 71:15-16 (VOICE)

“Your testimony is the story of your encounter with God and what role He has played throughout your life.” ~UNKNOWN

My Prayer:

Adonai Elohim, my Great Lord, you have been so good to me, and your mercies are new every morning. You are so faithful and true. Every promise that you have ever made, you have kept. I will tell of your goodness to others. I will speak of the blessings that I have enjoyed, blessings that have flowed from your hands and poured abundantly over me. I am so blessed to call you Father, Friend, Helper, Defender, Provider, Shelter, Hiding Place, Redeemer, Shepherd, and King. You are all that I need, my Great “I Am”. I will boast in my Lord, who means everything to me. I will testify of His goodness. I love you so much, Lord! ❤