Jeremiah 1: 6-10.

Yesterday, we saw how Jeremiah, a person of dignity, was called to be a person of destiny.

But he saw himself as:

A person with a disability (6): He was not the only person in the Bible to talk back to God and feel around for an excuse. Think of Moses with his speech impediment (Exodus 3, 4) and Gideon with his sense of smallness. We too may come up with our own reasons for not doing what God asks: ‘’I do not know…I am only…’’ (6). We plead ignorance and insignificance. But we need to allow our thoughts to be interrupted and contradicted by God (7). We should be ever so careful about our words. We are always talking to ourselves, and some of the time (possibly even much of the time?) our words are not true or helpful. But there is a ‘’must’’ about God’s will for our lives. If He wants us reluctant ‘Jonah’s’ in ‘Nineveh’, He will get us there one way or another.

However Jeremiah saw himself, God said he would be:

A person with a dynamic (7-10): God never calls a person without also equipping them for the task. He doesn’t call the qualified, it’s been said, but qualifies the called. We are quick to see and say what cannot be done; but God knows all that can be achieved because of who He is and the fact that He is with us. ‘’I am with you’’ (8) is the answer to all our feelings of inadequacy. In touching Jeremiah’s mouth, the Lord was essentially ‘anointing’ him to be His prophet; His mouthpiece, to speak His words (See Isaiah 6:7). ‘’The touch of God makes the difference between success and failure…The call of God and the touch of God must go together or we fail.’’ Warren W. Wiersbe: ‘With the Word’, p.497.

‘’We are quick to say of another believer: ‘’He or she doesn’t have the necessary gifts or ability to perform a certain task.’’ Yes, concerning natural gifts and abilities, we may be correct; but in evaluating others, let us never forget that it is the Lord who is the primary enabler of His servants. One can imagine a modern Christian leader saying to the young Jeremiah: ‘’No, you are just not cut out to be a prophet; you should do something else!’’ ‘’ Tom Hale: ‘The Applied Old Testament Commentary’, p.1077

God’s Word is mighty (10): ‘’See what I’ve done? I’ve given you a job to do among nations and governments – a red-letter day! Your job is to pull up and tear down, take apart and demolish, And then start over, building and planting.’’ The Message. At the beginning of Jeremiah’s book you get to see the two sides of his ministry – to pronounce judgment and to promise restoration. But you will find that the major emphasis, of necessity, is on the former.

‘’Just as Jeremiah was appointed over nations (verse 10), so are we; we who faithfully proclaim God’s word and obey His commands have a spiritual authority greater than any power on earth.’’ Tom Hale: ‘The Applied Old Testament Commentary’, p.1078.

‘’And who is sufficient for these things?’’ (2 Corinthians 2:16). ‘’Our sufficiency is from God.’’ (2 Corinthians 4: 5, 6). ‘’When God calls you to do a task for Him, He does not ask you to be adequate; He asks you to be available.’’ Warren W. Wiersbe: ‘With the Word’, p.496.

Prayer: Dear Lord, please touch my lips, so that I may speak your word.