The Promise in the Exile
Looking at God's restoration through the exile
The Dismay of Exile
At first glance, Israel’s exile looks like God has failed to keep his promise to his people,1 or even makes it seem like there was no legitimate promise to begin with. What had been promised to them by God was wrenched away2 and I imagine they questioned God’s trustworthiness during the exile.
The ordeal should not be taken lightly—they were removed by force from their homes and everything they loved and cherished was destroyed, including the temple. Everything about the exile—the siege of Jerusalem, the famines, the people taken to Babylon—must have been horrific. When the remnant returns, their spirits are battered and bruised and poor.
Purification in Exile
I’ll admit, I’ve always viewed the exile simply as the result of a continuously rebellious people.3 But the exile also serves another purpose; the returning remnant who turn their hearts back to God and lean on him again are purified through the exile.4
Instead of seeing the exile as the “end of an era” in which God’s promises were broken, we can see it as the beginning of a new era in which true restoration is fulfilled through Jesus.5
Our Response to the Exile
God’s church can have hope that despite the horrors that are going on in this world, our restoration is at hand. Jesus has fulfilled the promises and we can continue to be a faithful remnant to him every day.
Preparing Our Hearts
As we rely fully on God’s mysterious plan, we offer our hearts to God. We are called to live out the hope that is within us,6 and we continue the gospel mission of bringing the light of Christ to the world.