Why does God say, “You will find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13)?

Answer

As the exile of Judah began, Jeremiah sent a letter containing a message from God to the elders, priests, prophets, and all the people taken into exile by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon (Jeremiah 29:1-4). In this letter, God prophesied that the people of Judah would eventually return to Him. God declared, “You will find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

The letter commences with God encouraging the people to live normal lives in Babylon, to contribute positively to the cities where they were exiled, and to pray for the well-being of those cities (Jeremiah 29:4-7). Any messages advising against this (such as urging them to fight or rebel) would not be from God but from false prophets (Jeremiah 29:8-9). God promised to bring the people back to the land of Israel after the 70-year exile in Babylon, stating, “For thus saith 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” (Jeremiah 29:10). The exile had been foretold in Jeremiah 25:8–11 as a consequence of breaking God’s covenant given through Moses (the Mosaic Covenant, or Old Covenant, as referenced in Jeremiah 31). Although the judgment had been executed, it was not permanent—there would come a time when the people “will find me when you seek me with all your heart”All who seek me, and find me, when you search for me with all your heart.” , (Jeremiah 29:13).

When God brought the people of Judah back into their land, it would be to fulfill the plans God had for them—plans for well-being rather than calamity and to give them a future and a hope “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.” , (Jeremiah 29:11). God’s plan was to fulfill the unconditional promises of blessing that He had made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to bless the people in the land. But before He would fulfill those covenants of blessing for Israel, God would ensure that they were not placing confidence in their own efforts and righteousness. God wanted to ensure they would seek Him with all their heart. They would call upon Him and pray to Him, and He would listen to them “Then shall you call upon me, and you shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.” , (Jeremiah 29:12).

God’s promise to Israel, “You will find me when you seek me with all your heart,” denoted a major change. At some point after the completion of the 70-year exile, when Israel was back in the land, the people would relate to God differently than they had in the past. Rather than follow laws externally, they would one day have true righteousness as God would write His laws on their hearts, and they would all know God “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:” , (Jeremiah 31:31ff).

While the return from exile fulfilled Jeremiah’s prophecy, God’s full plans for the nation were yet to be realized.The well-being of the nation and their future of hope have not yet been realized. That fulfillment will come after the Messiah’s second coming as He establishes His kingdom in Jerusalem (cf. Jeremiah 31:31ff and Revelation 20). At that time, all the nations will know their God, as the New Covenant promised. In the meantime, all who seek Him with all their heart will find Him.

While these prophecies and promises are specifically related to the people of Judah and Israel, the principle that God will draw near to those who draw near to Him is a universal truth: “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded” (James 4:8a). But we have to draw near to God on His own terms—with clean hands and purified hearts: “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded” (James 4:8b) that only God can provide by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). While Jeremiah’s letter recorded the words of God for the exiled people of Judah, readers today can benefit from recognizing that the same God who said, “You will find me when you seek me with all your heart,” has also told us that we can draw near to Him and He will draw near to us: “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded” (James 4:8) and that He will never leave or forsake us: “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5).

Hebrews 13:5.