Whose Land Is It Anyway?

When I was a kid, evenings often meant sitting with my brothers watching Whose Line Is It Anyway? Drew Carey hosted, comedians improvised, the points were made up, and it was all about laughter. For me, it was one of those cultural pinpoints—memories of a more innocent time when life felt lighter. Back then I wasn’t weighed down by questions about whether our economic system might collapse or whether our nation was coming apart at the seams. It was enough just to laugh.

These days, even comedy doesn’t always feel like a release. The heightened emotions of our time mean that a single joke can spark outrage. Everyone wants to be offended. The gift of laughter has become fragile, another casualty of division. What once was a moment of respite now often feels like one more battleground. And yet, this is where Jeremiah’s story meets us.

In Jeremiah 32, the prophet is imprisoned, his city is under siege, and the nation’s future is in doubt. And in that moment, when hope seems gone, God tells Jeremiah to buy a field. It is an absurd act on the surface. Why purchase land that is about to be swallowed by Babylon? Why invest in what you cannot possibly hold? But Jeremiah does it anyway. He signs the deed, seals it, places it in an earthen jar, and declares that houses, fields, and vineyards will once again be bought in the land. His act is a protest against despair, a stubborn declaration that God’s future cannot be erased.

So we ask, whose land is it anyway? We may think we own our homes, our fields, our property, but as long as taxes, debts, and systems hang over us, ownership is conditional. The truth, as Jeremiah reminds us, is that the land belongs to God. We are stewards, not absolute owners. That perspective frees us to release our grip and to redirect ourselves away from cynicism and toward hope.

Dwelling in the Word

1. Read Jeremiah 32:1–3a, 6–15 slowly, even out loud if possible.

2. Notice the word, phrase, or image that stands out to you.

3. Sit with that word or phrase. Ask yourself why it matters to you right now.

4. Pray, asking God to show you what it means in your life and in our community.

5. Share with others what you noticed, or write it down in a journal.

   
   

Reflection Questions

• What does Jeremiah’s field purchase teach us about God’s promises when the world looks like it is falling apart?

• In what ways do you feel like land, property, or security in our time doesn’t truly belong to us? How might this shape your faith?

• How can you act out hope—even when it feels foolish—like Jeremiah did?

• What “fields” might God be calling you to invest in today, not with money, but with trust?

  
  

Let us pray. God of promise and future, you call us to hope when the walls are closing in. You remind us that the land, the people, and the future all belong to you. When we feel enslaved to systems too heavy to bear, turn our eyes to your kingdom, where justice, peace, and flourishing endure. Plant in us the courage to invest in hope, even when it seems absurd to do so. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

This week, we will explore more deeply what it means to invest in hope. For now, take this as an invitation. Jeremiah’s act was not just about land; it was about trust in God’s promise of a future. We are pilgrims on the way. Let us begin walking together in a different direction, away from despair and toward the hope that only God can give.