When Daniel and his buddies were hauled away to Babylon, the last thing on their mind had to be thinking of ways to prosper their new home.  I’m guessing there were extreme bouts of depression, despair, and anger, as well as some incredibly passionate pleas to the Lord for rescue.  

But rescue wasn’t coming.  Redemption was.  Rescue was not.  Jeremiah told them straight up in Jeremiah 29, “You are going into exile and those left behind in Judah are going to experience the sword, famine, and pestilence.”  Judgement was coming for generations of disobedience, and the ones who were exiled would need to prepare to get comfortable and live life in their new home.  

Jeremiah also told them that one day, the Lord was going to redeem Israel.  When they sought Him with all their heart, He would restore them and make them a great nation again.  

That’s the fine print that many people miss when it comes to God:  He’s in the business of providing redemption, not rescue.

Redemption is life change. Rescue is escape from the circumstances.

Redemption is a process. Rescue is a moment. 

Redemption involves relationship. Rescue involves a first responder.  

Jesus wants a life change, one that will take us through a process and will invite us into a relationship.  More often than not, people want an escape from their circumstances – not to experience real transformation.  They are looking for a quick fix, not a process.  They are looking for a hero, not a long-term relationship.  

Redemption is better.  It’s longer.  It’s harder.  It’s messier.  But it’s better.  

So many times people wind up standing in the wreckage of their own making while asking God for rescue, not realizing that He is offering something so much better than that.  He’s offering a complete game changer.  He’s offering something harder, longer, and messier:  redemption.  He’s offering something that will make sense and purpose of the mess we find ourselves in.

Rescue doesn’t provide that.  Rescue only provides a temporary reprieve until we find the next ditch.  

The prodigal son story?  That’s a redemption story, not a rescue story.  God let him experience the consequences of his decisions.  There was no rescue there.  Once he wanted something different, God rushed in to redeem.  

So if you’ve been praying for a rescue…  maybe it’s time to start praying for redemption.  And then follow Him through your mess into something better.