Jeremiah 33:3 · WEB
Jeremiah 33:3
“Call to me, and I will answer you, and will show you great and difficult things, which you don't know.”
Reflection
The setting sharpens this considerably. God says "call to me" while Jeremiah is shut up in prison and Jerusalem is under siege. His circumstances could hardly be more constrained, and into that God offers an unrestricted line of communication. The invitation isn't dependent on freedom or favorable conditions. Three promises follow in sequence: I will answer, I will show you, and what I show will be things you don't know. That last part is the striking one. Not confirmation of what you'd already figured out — "great and difficult things which you don't know." The implication is that prayer isn't primarily for informing God or ratifying our own conclusions. It's for receiving something we didn't have access to. Which suggests a different posture in prayer than most of us bring. We tend to arrive with the analysis complete, asking for endorsement. The invitation here assumes you're calling precisely because you don't know.
Historical Context
Spoken to Jeremiah while he was imprisoned in the court of the guard, with Jerusalem under siege. The invitation to call comes at a moment when the prophet's circumstances were at their most constrained.
Application for Today
The invitation here is to ask about things you can't figure out — not to bring God your conclusions for approval. What are you stuck on? Call about that one. The promise attached is that he answers, and that the answer may exceed what you currently know.
A Prayer
God, I've been trying to reason my way through this alone. You said to call, so I'm calling. Answer me. Show me what I can't see from here — I'm out of my depth and willing to admit it.
Related Verses
“Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective.”
James 5:16
“This is the boldness which we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he listens to us.”
1 John 5:14
“In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7