Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. — Jeremiah 33:3

George Fredrick Müller (1805-1898) was an evangelist and the founder of several orphanages in Bristol, England. More than ten thousand orphans were cared for in those homes during his lifetime. Rather than asking people for monetary support, Müller laid the orphanages’ needs before the Lord, and trusted Him to provide. At times his faith was tested to the extreme, but God always supplied food and provisions for the children.

One year, with winter fast approaching, the boiler of one of the orphan houses — the main heat source — was leaking badly, requiring repair or replacement. But first, the brickwork which completely surrounded the boiler had to be taken away, a process that alone could take days. The leak was great enough that it was questionable whether repairs were possible, and nothing could be ascertained until the brickwork was removed. Temporary forms of heating were impractical for various reasons, and three hundred children, who would suffer in cold rooms, relied on the heat provided by the boiler.

George Müller determined to place the situation entirely into the Hands of the Almighty, trusting in His mercy and tender compassion. A date was chosen for the beginning of the project, and necessary arrangements were made. The fire was to go out on a Wednesday, and the Friday before that day, a north wind began to blow in earnest, bringing frigid weather. Since plans were already in motion for this necessary repair, in prayer Müller asked the Lord for two specific things: that the north wind would become a south wind, and that He would give the workmen a mind to work.

Tuesday evening was still very cold, but on Wednesday the wind came from the south, and the weather was so mild that no fire was needed. The bricks were removed, the leak was soon found, and repairs began. When the boilermakers’ boss came that evening, he said that his men could work late, and return early in the morning. But the leader of the men said, “We would rather work all night, Sir.” By morning the leak was fixed, and within thirty hours, the bricks were back in place. During the entire project, the weather was so warm that there was no need of any heat.

God had once again wonderfully answered prayer! The weather, completely beyond human control, was but a small thing to Him. Requesting the workmen to work through the night was not something Müller could do. However, God resolved both issues in a beautiful way, and the children were not adversely affected.

In our focus verse, God gave Jeremiah a wonderful promise. The prophet was being held prisoner for proclaiming that the enemy would overrun the city of Jerusalem, but there in the depths of the dungeon, he received the assurance that God would hear and answer his prayers.

What requests will you bring to the Lord? We can ask for specific needs, just as George Müller requested the warm weather and the mind to work. We can call upon Him, and He promises to answer, showing us great and mighty things — things that we have not even thought of! God wants to be depended upon. If we ask according to His will with unwavering faith, it is His good pleasure to answer us. Depend on God!

BACKGROUND

From the court of the prison, while Jerusalem was under siege by the Chaldeans, the Prophet Jeremiah gave Judah and Israel hope for the future. Although their city lay desolate, with many already carried away captive, the time would come when God would bring them back and restore their land, their throne, and their worship of God.

Throughout this chapter we read many promises of God’s good intentions for His people. He reassured the people that, in spite of the fact that they had disobeyed and followed other gods, when they turned back to Him, He would bring health, reveal peace and truth, and cleanse their iniquities. His name would be praised and honored by all the nations of the earth.

Furthermore, God promised that Israel again would experience joy and gladness in their land, and would feel grateful for what the Lord had done. They would be at peace, a quality the prophet poetically illustrated with a picture of shepherds guiding their flocks throughout the land.

In verse 14 we read a prophecy of Jesus, the Branch of righteousness, Who was to bring justice. God also promised that the house of David would always have a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel. The priests of the Tribe of Levi would never lack a man to offer the sacrifices. And Israel’s descendants would be as abundant as the sand of the sea, and as the host of Heaven.

God’s covenant with Israel was absolutely unwavering — as sure as the fact that night follows day in each twenty-four-hour time frame. Verses 20-21 read, “If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night . . . then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant.” The descendants of David were assured of God’s covenant with them.

AMPLIFIED OUTLINE

(Hannah’s Bible Outlines - Used by permission per WORDsearch)
II.   The pronouncement of judgment against Judah
    C.   The consolations of the prophet
           3.   The promise of restoration restated (33:1-26)
                 a.   The promise of the renewal of the people (33:1-9)
                 b.   The promise of the restoration of the land (33:10-14)
                 c.   The promise of the restoration of the throne (33:15-17)
                 d.   The promise of the restoration of Temple worship (33:18-22)
                 e.   The promise of Israel’s permanence (33:23-26)

A CLOSER LOOK

1. With what natural law did God compare the absolute certainty that his covenant with David would be honored?
   
   
2. Why do you think God tempered His judgment of disobedient Judah with these proclamations of mercy?
   
   
3. What are some of the “great and mighty” things God has already done in your life?

CONCLUSION

We serve a tender and compassionate God, Who wants to be our source of strength. He desires to answer our prayers — we just need to ask.