Seventy Years

THE QUESTION

Through Jeremiah, God told His people their exile in Babylon would not last forever. How many years did He say it would last?

A) Seven years

B) Forty years

C) Seventy years ✓

D) Four hundred years

A closer look

In a letter to the people carried off to Babylon, God promised through Jeremiah, “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place” (Jeremiah 29:10). The very next verse is the well-loved “For I know the plans I have for you.”

Years later, Daniel read Jeremiah’s words and understood “that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years” (Daniel 9:2). And when King Cyrus let the exiles go home, it was “in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah” (Ezra 1:1).

Forty years was a good thought: that’s how long Israel spent in the wilderness (Numbers 14:33-34).

Today’s verse was spoken to those same exiles: “I have loved you with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3). Seventy years couldn’t wear that love out.

We hope this helped you grow in God’s Word today. Now head back to your email and tell us how you liked today’s devotional. 🙏