CALLING AND COURAGE
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The date of Jeremiah’s call—“the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah” (Jeremiah 1:2)—places the beginning of his ministry in 626 B.C. It would continue for almost forty years to the fall and capture of Jerusalem in 587 B.C. We often imagine the Hebrew prophets as old men with long beards, but for those whose prophetic ministry stretched over decades, their first “the word of the Lord came to me” experiences were as young people. Indeed, his youth was Jeremiah’s first objection. “ ‘Alas, Sovereign LORD,’ I said, ‘I do not know how to speak; I am too young’ ” (Jeremiah 1:6). It seemed like a legitimate concern, particularly in a culture in which age and experience were most respected. God responded by dismissing Jeremiah’s objection, assuring him that a calling from God was larger than his fears and that God would be with him, which should offer courage enough. This was an important conversation for God and Jeremiah to have. Jeremiah’s forty years of ministry would be difficult.
His messages were not popular; he was ridiculed and imprisoned regularly, and historical tradition suggests that he was ultimately stoned to death in Egypt.
But his ministry began with the promise that God would be with him, and therefore, he should not allow fear to be an objection to God’s calling, wherever it might lead or however difficult it might be. Calling can be a difficult question for many of us, but perhaps our first calling is to not allow fear to be an objection to the good and faithful service and ministry we might otherwise do. It seems from Jeremiah’s story that none of us can use the objection that we are too young.
