“…So Hanameel mine uncle’s son came to me in the court of the prison, according to the word of the Lord.” Jeremiah 32:8
Dear Ones:
Most of us have not heard much about Hanameel in the Bible, and yet, there he is, mentioned in the book of Jeremiah. He is mentioned at a very crucial time in the history of Judah, and specifically, Jerusalem. Jeremiah is imprisoned in the King’s prison. Judgement had been declared by the prophets of God, in response to Israel’s blatant and determined rejection of the rule of God. Hanameel came on the scene in conformity to “the word of the Lord” given to Jeremiah. Why? Why would the visit of Hanameel to Jeremiah in prison be so significant?
If we were to take a “book” as an illustration, and begin by reading the introduction, we might say that Hanameel was that introduction. What was he the introduction of? In a word, it was HOPE. It was not that Hanameel was the hope of Israel, but that he was an instrument, proved and confirmed to the heart of Jeremiah, that God was, even in the midst of judgement, proclaiming hope. How? Hanameel came to Jeremiah to ask him to buy a parcel of land in Anathoth, that belonged to his father. Jeremiah was next in line to buy the piece of land, but why would someone want to buy a piece of land at a time such as this, when the city was being besieged by the Babylonians? Jeremiah would purchase the land because, “…I knew that this was the word of the Lord.” (v.8) The purchase of the land, the taking of the deed and preserving it in a jar, was a picture…of hope, that one day, according to the Lord, “…Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed AGAIN in this land.” (v.15) So, by the hand of Hanameel, God is declaring that even in the midst of extremely adverse circumstances, where there seems to be NO hope, and NO future, there would come a day when sin would be completely forgiven, and the people would return to the land. The blessing of God would AGAIN be seen in the land…because God, for whom nothing is too hard, promised it, and would accomplish it.
Dear Father, God of Israel, Jeremiah, and Hanameel…give us grace to see through the raging storm, the overcast sky, the apparently hopeless circumstance, that Thou art good, and art the God of new beginnings. Give us to see something of Thy heart of mercy and grace, and what Thou dost desire to do for those who will truly trust in Thee. Indeed, “…let none that trust in Him be desolate, or ashamed…” (Ps. 25:3, 34:22) In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad