Have you ever wondered why God chooses certain people to do His work? Throughout God’s Word, we see Him assigning very important tasks to individuals who seem utterly unequipped to accomplish those tasks. Jeremiah was one such man.

Living in ancient Israel during a time when judgment was on the horizon, Jeremiah received God’s call seemingly out of the blue. Jeremiah was called to be a prophet to the nations—effectively the voice of God on earth to all who needed to hear it. And Jeremiah did what most of us would have done: he told God He must be confused. Jeremiah said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth” (Jeremiah 1:6). Didn’t God know he wasn’t equipped for this kind of work?

God replied, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak” (Jeremiah 1:7). It sounds a little like a father rebuking his son, doesn’t it? “Son, don’t tell me why you can’t clean your room right now. Just do it.”

The difference is, Jeremiah’s chore involved public speaking—one of the most feared tasks of all time—and may even have been life-threatening. Already, Jeremiah knew prophets had a good track record of being persecuted and killed at this time. 

In light of that, God’s response could seem insensitive, but let’s take a look at what God said when He first called Jeremiah:

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations. (Jeremiah 1:5)

Here we can see some of the Father’s heart. God knows Jeremiah. He also knows us, inside and out, past, present, and future. And here, too, we get a revelation of God as the Maker, the one who determines reality. He decides who we are and what we can do—before we are even born.

What’s more, if we feel we aren’t what we ought to be, we can ask Him to remake us. He has all creative power over our lives, and He can change it all with a word. Jesus said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)

So, once God heard Jeremiah’s excuse, what did He do? He touched him. “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth,” (Jeremiah 1:10). God said as His hand reached out to Jeremiah. Then He continued, “Behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land” (Jeremiah 1:18).

I believe that God’s touch meant His presence was with Jeremiah, and His words spoke of a change of identity. God was remaking Jeremiah into what he needed to be to do what he was called to do.

The road ahead was still hard for Jeremiah, as history testifies, but God did exactly what He said He would do in Jeremiah’s life. Jeremiah did bring God’s Word to all sorts of people—even to kings—and he was strengthened like iron before them when opposed. God knew what He was doing.  

So what’s God saying to you? What has He asked of you that you are absolutely convinced you can’t do? Call to mind the moments you’ve told Him He picked the wrong person for the job, and repent, acknowledging that He is the Maker, and He can do with you whatever He wills. In surrender, find freedom, and watch God work miracles in you, through you, and around you.

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Scripture is quoted from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®). ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.