“I Couldn’t Possibly Do That!”

by: Michael Wilcock

“I couldn’t possibly do that!” Sometimes you might wish you’d said those words sooner! You didn’t realize what you were letting yourself in for when you agreed to accept the assignment. But Jeremiah could not plead ignorance as an excuse. The Lord had spelled out the proposal from the beginning. What was more, it was not just a proposal about what Jeremiah might do, or even an order about what he should do, but a bald statement of fact about what he was going to do. And since it was God stating it, the matter was already decided. Regardless of ability, aptitude, or even interest, Jeremiah was to be a prophet.

The diffident teenager recoiled from the idea. He had no such ambitions. To follow the family tradition and be a village priest (cf. v. 1) — that Jeremiah could cope with. As a priest, you knew what was expected of you. But prophets might have to say unexpected things, unpopular things.

And to be a prophet to the nations? To have to speak out not simply about small-scale domestic matters, religious topics, in-house church affairs, but about the big issues, the secular world, politics — and speak them to powerful people who cared nothing for you and your God? Oh my!

Back then, it was just him. Now, to speak out God’s Word to the whole world is the calling of all God’s people.