“For thus says the Lord, ‘When seventy years have been
completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to
bring you back to this place.’” – Jeremiah 29:10
God had sent his people into exile . . . but . . . the time
in exile was to be limited! This is
great news for all of us who may be traveling through a difficult and trying
experience. Exile is not forever. Israel’s exile was limited to 70 years.
The number “70” is a symbolic number. It’s “10” times “7”. The
number “10” symbolizes testing in the Bible (10 commandments, 10 plagues in
Egypt, 10% tithe, 10 talents, 10 virgins, 10 lepers, etc). The number “7” is sometimes
called the perfect number. It represents perfection or completion in the Bible
(God’s 7th day rest, Joshua’s 7 day march around Jericho, Revelation’s
7 seals, 7 lampstands, and 7 stars). So “70” means (“7” x “10”) a complete or
perfect time of testing.
We can infer from this text that God places limitations upon
our times of suffering and exile. Today’s trouble will not last forever. And
let me add that our times of exile are always on purpose. God never wastes a
hurt. The promises of Jeremiah 29:11-14 are just ahead.
“Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large
intelligence and a deep heart.” –Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment.
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