JEREMIAH 1
Kings and rulers come and go, but the Word of God remains and accomplishes God’s work in the world. Yet God needs a voice to herald the Word, and nobody feels adequate for the task.
Hearing (1–10). God’s word to Jeremiah was, “You will be what I want you to be, go where I want you to go, and say what I want you to say. I supervised your conception, I consecrated you, and now I am ordaining you.” If God calls you, believe what He says and obey Him. You may not feel up to it, but your adequacy comes from God, not from yourself.
Seeing (11–16). God’s servants must have open eyes as well as open ears, for God can “speak” through what they see. In Hebrew, the words almond and watch are similar. God watches over His Word to perform what He says. Our job is proclamation; His job is performance. Babylon came from the north and destroyed Judah and Jerusalem.
Doing (17–19). It was difficult for youthful Jeremiah to confront his elders with a message of denunciation, but God made him and God was with him. God’s messengers must be walls and not shifting sand.
Are You Available?
Moses did not feel adequate for the task when God called him, but the Lord reassured him (Exod. 3–4). “And who is sufficient for these things?” asked Paul (
God’s Touch
The touch of God makes the difference between success and failure. God touched Isaiah’s lips to give him purity (Isa. 6:1–7) and Jeremiah’s lips to give him power (