What is the meaning of "for I know the plans I have for you" in Jeremiah 29:11?

Jeremiah's letter (29:1-23) Concerning Shemaiah and his false prophecies (29:24-32)

Verses 1-23. King Zedekiah sent Elasah and Gemariah on a diplomatic mission to King Nebuchadnezzar. Jeremiah used the occasion to send a letter by them to the exiles. The letter first of all makes it clear that their stay in Babylon will not be transitory. They are to settle down, build homes, many, rear families, take wives for their sons and husbands for their daughters. They were to seek the peace of Babylon, for Babylon's peace would mean their own peace. The latter injunction has often been forgotten by the Jews during the past 1900 years, since their great dispersion; often have they fomented strife among the nations where they are strangers.

The false prophets had predicted a speedy return. Some of these false prophets had gone with them to Babylon and were present in the prison camp on the banks of the river Chebar. We read in Ezekiel 11:3 that they ridiculed the Divine command and gave wicked counsel. They felt themselves secure. Ezekiel continued the message of Jeremiah. (See annotations of Ezekiel.) Once more the seventy years are mentioned and what is to take place after they have expired. "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end." He promises an answer to their cry, and if they seek Him, He will be found. How gracious and merciful He is towards His own! In His own time all His gracious purposes will be fully accomplished in that nation, as they were partially accomplished in the return of a remnant after the exile. Verse 14 speaks of the larger return "gathered out from all the nations." But those who persistently continued in disobedience, who listened to the false prophets will suffer the predicted fate; for such there will be no deliverance. Two of the false prophets are mentioned by name, Ahab and Zedekiah (not the king). Besides being false prophets, they were adulterers and whoremongers. King Nebuchadnezzar roasted them in the fire (22-23).

Verses 24-32. Shemaiah, a Nehelamite, which means "the dreamer," was also in Babylon, and when the captives received the letter from Jeremiah, he answered the letter. The letter was received by a certain Zephaniah, of whom he inquired, "Why hast thou not reproved Jeremiah of Anathoth, which maketh himself a prophet to you?" When Zephaniah received this letter he read it to Jeremiah. The Lord exposes the Nehelamite as a deceiver, and his judgment is announced.

Thus the prophet forwards his letter to the captives by the messengers whom Zedekiah sent to Nebuchadnezzar. It was no accidental slip of Jeconiah and the people; it was no power of the king of Babylon which accounted for the degradation of the Jews. Jehovah of hosts had caused them to be carried away to the city of the conqueror; and He it was that now spoke to them by Jeremiah. How gracious thus to notice them after all their guilt and to link His name with theirs in their fallen estate! It was worse than vain to hope for an immediate return to Palestine: no conspiracies, no resolutions would avail. It was Jehovah's word that they should settle down in the land of their captivity, building and planting, marrying and giving in marriage, and thus increase rather than diminish, seeking withal the peace of the city where they sojourned, and this heartily as from the Lord, and not as pleasing men. In its peace should be their peace. Assuredly the ways of the Lord are wise and good, wholesome and edifying. Oh that His people had hearkened to Him, and Israel had walked in His ways! But as of old Israel would none of Him, so now were the captive Jews in danger of being a prey to the deceivers who fattened on the folly and sin they helped on.

Hence the prophet was directed to add a special warning against false spiritual pretensions. "For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed. For they prophesy falsely to you in my name: I have not sent them, says the Lord. For thus says the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray to me, and I will hearken to you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, says the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, says the Lord; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive." (Ver. 8-14.) The stay of seventy years in Babylon was measured of Jehovah. It was long enough to accomplish His chastening; it was short enough to prove His tender mercy, and leave room for a greater display of Himself, to be followed alas! by a more dismal and lasting punishment of their guiltier rejection of their own Messiah.

"For thus says Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed. For they prophesy falsely to you in My name: I have not sent them, says Jehovah. For thus says Jehovah," instead of Hananiah's two years, "that after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform My good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says Jehovah, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and pray to Me, and I will hearken to you. And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, says Jehovah: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, says Jehovah; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive" (verses 8-14).

This predicted return from captivity was, no doubt, accomplished in a measure when the return took place under Cyrus, the king of Persia, although the terms of the prophecy go beyond that, but still there was an accomplishment at that time. Then Jehovah speaks concerning those Jews still remaining in Jerusalem under Zedekiah: "Know that thus says Jehovah of the king that sits upon the throne of David, and of all the people that dwells in this city and of your brethren that are not gone forth with you into captivity; Thus says Jehovah of hosts; Behold, I will send upon them the sword, and the famine, and the pestilence." This is not a promise of the return from Babylon under a son of David. The son of David was to suffer chastisement still more. There had been already a son of David carried into captivity. There was another son of David still reigning in Jerusalem, and the pestilence and the sword were doomed to fall upon him.

In Jeremiah, although at that time Israel was in captivity through their failure, yet the Lord could say, “I know the thoughts that I think towards you, thoughts of peace.” My eye is upon you, even in Babylon! It is as a Refiner of silver, who stirs the molten metal up to a certain point. What point is that? The point at which he can see the clear reflection of himself in the molten metal. Then he says, that is enough! This is only an illustration, but in like manner, when the child of God is brought to the point in which he can say, “Thy will be done,” that is the reflection of His image.

In the “Yoke and the Covenant” section of Jeremiah, God introduces to Israel His intentions by these words, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith Jehovah, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you in your latter end a hope” (Jer.29:11). His will for them, His promises to them, His thoughts about them, as we have seen, are frequently reinforced by the expression, “I will”.

The God of peace whose thoughts of peace towards Israel, expressed in the new covenant, is likewise the God of peace to us. He may allow circumstances for us akin to Israel's captivity in Babylon. To outward appearance all may be in turmoil. But He is the God of peace, and has towards us thoughts of peace, and has planned for us a “latter end”.

H J Vine [5] gives this section of Jeremiah the title, “The Yoke and the Covenant”. After placing the nation under Nebuchadnezzar's yoke, Jehovah promises to Israel the blessings in Jeremiah 29:10-14. These verses express Jehovah's will concerning the restoration from Babylonian captivity. But it also hints at something far beyond this (v.11 “your latter end”) which is unfolded in the following chapters. It is expressed in these words, “I will”.

Just as it was necessary to accept the judgment, so it was necessary to bear it patiently until the end of the seventy years assigned it by the Lord. So Jeremiah wrote to those taken captive under Jeconiah (Jehoiachin): "Build houses, and dwell in them, and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them. Take wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; and multiply there, and be not diminished. And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray unto Jehovah for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace" (Jer. 29:5-7). At the appointed time there was to be a restoration. "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says Jehovah, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you in your latter end a hope" (Jer. 29:11).

The prophet of God stood upon mount Horeb in the day of his deep depression. (1 Kings 19.) A great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks. The bosom of the earth heaved under the power of the hand of God. The flames of consuming fire burst forth and ravaged the face of nature. The wind, the earthquake, and the fire were all in deep consonance with the spirit of the prophet, for he dwelt upon the sins of the people, his own heartless rejection at their hand, and he looked for the judgment of God. And now he beheld the signs of Jehovah's power to vindicate His own cause and to assert His own majesty. Yet there was a deeper lesson for this beloved man of God to learn. These were the servants of Jehovah's might, but He Himself was not in them. Rending, upheaving, and devouring can never set forth the nature of God; they never can express the thoughts of His heart. Judgment He must perform, though it be His strange work; yet behind it all He says, "I know the thoughts that I think toward you … thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." (Jer. 29:11.) The end, which is ever before God, is the blessing of His people in peace and love, the expression of His own nature.

“Thus says the Lord, that after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon, I will visit you and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:10-11).

A further word on this prophecy as to Israel must be added. In 29:10-12, we read, “Thus says the Lord, that after 70 years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. Then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and pray unto Me, and I wilt hearken unto you.” It was this word, evidently, that years after set Daniel praying: “I Daniel understood by books the number of the years whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet.” So for the fulfilment of this promise Jeremiah was used in prophesy; Daniel in prayer; and Cyrus, a man who did not know the Lord, in providence. God had said of Cyrus long before, through Isaiah, “I have surnamed thee though thou hast not known Me … Thee I have raised up in righteousness.” Again we read, Now in the first year of Cyrus, King of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, King of Persia, that he made proclamation” etc. (2 Chr. 36:22). So exact, and so encouraging, is this word and its actual accomplishment, that it is full of comfort and cheer to the soul that trusts in the blessed God; knowing that, even at the present time, He makes all things work together for the good of His own, who have been called by His grace, according to His purpose. Even a detail such as buying a field (Jer. 32:7) is used of God to show in the very presence of the desolation, about to be brought upon the land, that His good word concerning His people should verily come to pass; and the fields should flourish and be fruitful again. And so it was Our God and Father is a faithful God, who fulfils His word.