I've received several negative comments on articles I have written about using ChatGPT to study the Bible so I'm putting some updates to my thoughts. I subscribe to ChatGPT's $20 a month subscription so it has gotten to know me pretty well. Crazy I know that I'm saying that, but it is really true. It knows I'm a Christian, what we sell on Memory Cross, our company's mission, those organizations we support and much more. So when I ask it a question to talk to it about a subject it knows me so it tailors the response to my beliefs.
So here is the only change I recommend if you are not on a subscription or this will be your first time. Say you are trying to understand a section of the Bible. In this case I choose Jeremiah 29: 1-14. I just asked it the question below but try adding this information:
I am a Christian, a committed follower to Jesus Christ and I'm trying to understand (fill in the Bible Verse). In this case Jeremiah 29:1-14. I want to understand Jeremiah 29:1-14 what does it mean and how is it relevant to us today. Her is its answer. I understand that if you write I am a Jew, atheist, Muslim, etc you will get different answers.
This passage is part of a letter the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the Israelites who had been taken into exile in Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar. The people were discouraged, confused, and hoping to return home soon, but Jeremiah’s message was not what they wanted to hear.
Verses 1–7: Settle Down and Seek Peace
Jeremiah tells the exiles to:
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Build houses and live in them
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Plant gardens and eat their produce
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Marry and have families
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Seek the peace and prosperity of the city where they were taken
In other words, God was saying, “You’re going to be here for a while, make the best of it. Don’t waste your life waiting for things to go back to the way they were.”
Even though they were in a foreign, pagan land, God expected them to live faithfully and contribute to the good of that place. Their well-being was tied to the well-being of Babylon.
Verses 8–9: Don’t Believe False Prophets
There were false prophets telling the exiles they’d be going home soon. God, through Jeremiah, warned them not to listen to lies that offered false hope. He was telling them to trust His timing, not human promises.
Verses 10–14: God’s Promise of Restoration
God tells them:
“When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place.”
Then comes one of the most famous verses in Scripture:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (v. 11)
This wasn’t a blanket promise for instant success, it was a long-term assurance that God’s plan was still unfolding, even through hardship. Their captivity was part of His plan to discipline, refine, and ultimately restore them.
🌍 Relevance for Us Today
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God’s Plans Are Bigger Than Our Circumstances
Like the Israelites, we often find ourselves in places we don’t want to be, stuck, waiting, or suffering. Jeremiah 29 reminds us that God hasn’t forgotten us, even in difficulty. His timing may be longer than we like, but His purpose is always for our good.
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Faithfulness Where You Are
The call to “build, plant, marry, and seek peace” means:
Bloom where you’re planted.
Even when life isn’t ideal, we’re to live productively, honor God, and bless others right where we are.
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Discern Truth from False Hope
In a world full of quick fixes, empty promises, and false teachings, Jeremiah’s warning is timely: don’t chase easy answers. True hope is grounded in God’s Word, not in what we want to hear.
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Hope and Restoration
God’s message of restoration shows that no exile, no separation, sin, or hardship, is permanent for those who turn to Him. When we “seek Him with all our heart” (v. 13), He promises to be found.
💡 In Summary
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Original meaning: God told the exiles to live faithfully in Babylon and trust Him to restore them in His time.
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Timeless lesson: Even when life feels off track, God is still in control. We’re called to live with faith, patience, and purpose while trusting His long-term plan.
It can be hard, but God has called us to follow Him. The rewards in this life and the next far surpass what we receive by following our own path. Comments are welcome below.
