God went to great trouble to tell Jeremiah that he made him the way he was on purpose - the right tool for the right job. He tells him that he has set him up to be not just a prophet but a prophet to the nations. (That's a big, scary job - to speak for God to the nations.) Jeremiah protests that he is too young (inexperienced) and doesn't know how to speak (doesn't know what to say). Basically he's telling God his insecurities. So God says don't give me that hogwash (my paraphrase) - you're going to go where I tell you to go and say what I tell you to say. Then he touches Jeremiah's mouth and tells him, there - I have put MY words in your mouth. I'm appointing you to be a prophet (my spokesman) to nations and kingdoms. (Not only was he a prophet to Judah but also to Israel and the kingdoms surrounding them.)
Jeremiah would have power over them - basically he could tear them down (destroy them) or build them up (establish them). Even the name Jeremiah means "whom God has appointed". Interestingly he is a priest from Anathoth, which means "answers to prayers" and his father was Hilkiah, probably the same high priest that found the book of the Law for Josiah that had been lost. Hilkiah means "my portion is God". Josiah means "whom God heals". I like to look up names - they often add meaning.
Then God turns to what he wants to show Jeremiah. He asks Jeremiah what he sees. A rod of almond, he says. This rod reminds me of the rod of the almond tree that bloomed for Aaron when God was showing the leaders of Israel whom his chosen priest was in the wilderness. I think that this rod of almond could have some connection to that one - a symbol of priestly authority, perhaps. Jeremiah is first and foremost a priest. God follows this with a a play on words that basically means, whatever I say will happen I will also bring about.
And God asks him again … what do you see? A boiling pot facing towards the south, he responds. Babylon would come from the east but skirt the desert and appear from the north. The boiling pot faced Judah and Jerusalem. A boiling pot can only mean trouble is brewing. And so it was - their conqueror was coming.
So God comes back a second time and tells Jeremiah that he is calling all the family-clans that belong to the kingdoms in the north (Babylon) and they will come and judge Jerusalem (setting a throne up in the gate - the gate was where the elders met and a throne set up in it indicates a change of government).
There will be no protection or safety for Judah and Jerusalem for three reasons:
- Israel/Judah has forsaken God
- They made sacrifices to idols
- They worshipped the works of their own hands - it's all going to be destroyed.
Interestingly, God did not seem to have to tell any other prophets not to be afraid before those they prophesied to. He specifically addresses Jeremiah's insecurities and fears … from who he is (I made you exactly what I wanted you to be - I planned this ahead of time and set you apart for this job) … to his abilities (youth or inexperience and lack of speaking ability - I think Jeremiah was saying he didn't know what to say, he's not very experienced and he's not much of a speaker - God says I'LL tell you what to say) … to his fear of confrontation (don't show fear in front of them - don't let them intimidate you or I'll show them you're a coward- I'll intimidate you before them).
Jeremiah had both insecurities and fears …. but God was about to use him powerfully anyway. God also addresses what must have been another fear he had. Jeremiah must have been afraid of conflict because he was afraid of being harmed. God does not waste words … if Jeremiah did not need to hear these things, God would not have said them. Basically he tells Jeremiah to show some backbone or be exposed as a coward, ie destroyed by his fear - and by the way, they can't hurt you anyway because I am going to deliver (protect) you.
What a pointed message.
Even though he is the son of the high priest and a priest himself, Jeremiah seems to have real insecurity and fears in these areas:
1.Doubts about who and what he is - seems like he was keenly aware of his deficiencies
2.His youth - which equates to a lack of experiences
3.His ability to speak or rather not knowing what to say
4.A fear of confrontation, of telling people hard truths
5.A fear of being harmed - hurt, killed
God's response to all of that was:
1.I know all about who and what you are, I made you this way on purpose, I PLANNED you before you were born
2.I have a job specifically for you and it's a big one - and no you're not getting out of it
3.You WILL go where I want and I'll tell you what to say and you WILL say it
4.Don't be a coward or I'll let them see that you are afraid and destroy you through your fear right in front of them
5.I'm going to protect you from harm so you won't be hurt while doing what I say to do.
6.Get up and get on with it (Was he slow moving or just a procrastinator?)
No comments:
Post a Comment