GOD CALLS JEREMIAH

Friday, January 20th 2017

The main theme of Jeremiah's book:

After the end of the kingdom of the north, a century has passed. When God calls Jeremiah to prophesy, the kingdom of the north is dangerously threatened. During forty years Jeremiah will warn the people and implore them to come back to God with obedience and confidence. But the people will not listen to him. The people have turned their head from God... and Jeremiah will be only a witness of the realization of the threats: the destruction of Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 1:1-19

GOD CALLS JEREMIAH

What we must fear is fear itself, said a great politician. The prophet Jeremiah must face up to two kinds of fear.

1. Fear of himself

Jeremiah worked for the oracle of God during the last years of Judah. God called Jeremiah when he was young. Before the birth of the prophet, God already wanted to establish him as prophet. Before his birth, God had already consecrated him. It's a formidable thing to Jeremiah and also to each one of us. But God's will to call a person is irrevocable. Jeremiah feared because of his heavy tongue, he didn't know how to speak and above all he was a young man. But he had nothing to fear because it's God that will give his word in his mouth.

2. Fear of the people

Dieu make Jeremiah see two visions of the early almond tree and the bubbling pot toward the north. It was a prediction of the catastrophe which will come from the north. God establishes Jeremiah as spokesperson of God. When Jeremiah though to this message he fears the people because they were arrogant and very idolatrous. But he must not fear because God will be with him to deliver him. The ennemy will make always the war against God's people because they rejected their message. But God will deliver them.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your great will for me. But I am so weak. Fortify me to accomplish your will and transmit your message.

Bottom line: don't be afraid