I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.
Jeremiah 24:7 NIV
In the twenty-fourth chapter of Jeremiah, the prophet shares a vision from the Lord. God presents him with a striking image: two baskets of figs placed before the temple. One basket holds figs that are very good, while the other contains figs so bad they cannot be eaten. When asked what he sees, Jeremiah responds with this simple but vivid observation. What follows, however, is anything but simple. The Lord uses this imagery to reveal a powerful truth about His heart for His people, even in exile.
The Lord explains, “Like these good figs, I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I sent away from this place to the land of the Babylonians” (Jeremiah 24:5, NIV). Though the people had sinned and were facing the consequences of their rebellion, God had not forsaken them. In fact, He still saw them through the lens of His mercy and redemptive purpose. What seemed like abandonment was, in reality, divine pruning. What appeared to be rejection was part of a deeper restoration.
God’s words are full of comfort and promise: “My eyes will watch over them for their good… I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know me… for they will return to me with all their heart” (Jeremiah 24:6–7). These verses reveal that God’s love is not reactive to our righteousness, but rooted in His sovereign grace. He sees the potential of what we can become when touched by His mercy.
This passage reminds us that even when we feel scattered or distant from God, perhaps as a result of our own choices, He remains committed to our good. The exile of the Israelites was a painful consequence of their disobedience, yet it was not the end of their story. God had a plan, and it was already in motion. While they were carried away into Babylon, the Lord was still watching, still working, still loving.
It’s a humbling truth: God doesn’t call us good because of our deeds, but because of His mercy. He looks beyond our present failures and sees the fruit that can come when grace takes root in our hearts. The exiles may not have recognised God’s purpose in their suffering, but the Lord never lost sight of His promise. His covenant love endured beyond their mistakes.
In our own lives, we may face seasons that feel like exile—times when we are far from where we hoped to be, whether spiritually, emotionally, or even physically. Yet God’s word through Jeremiah assures us that He is not finished with us. Even amid judgment or hardship, His redemptive hand is at work. He is rebuilding, replanting, and renewing.
Let this encourage you: God sees you not just as you are, but as you can be through Him. When all we can see are the “bad figs” of our situation, God is already cultivating something good, something lasting, something holy.
Living It Out
Take time today to reflect on where you might be feeling distant from God. Are you in a season that feels like exile? Ask the Lord to reveal His purposes in this time and trust that He is watching over you for your good. Spend time in prayer, surrendering any shame or doubt, and invite Him to renew your heart. His promise still stands: “They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart” (Jeremiah 24:7). Return to Him with your whole heart—He has never turned away from you.