UNDERSTANDING PURPOSE

General Understanding of Calling

Main Text: Jeremiah 1:5-10

Jeremiah 1:5 (ESV)

“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.”

Faithlife Study Bible (Chapter 1) Verse 4.

the word of The Hebrew term here can be translated as “word,” “event,” or “matter.” In the context of the prophetic experience, the word of Yahweh is experienced as a real auditory, visual, and physical event.

1. Before I formed you

Faithlife Study Bible (Chapter 1)

formed This term is typically used to describe the process of shaping pottery. It appears in Gen 2:7 as part of God’s act of creating the first human from the dust of the earth.

2. I knew you

Faithlife Study Bible (Chapter 1)

I knew The Hebrew verb for “to know” is used to describe the most intimate of relationships.

3. Before you were born

If we believe in the biblical God, then we know that he knew us before we were even conceived in our mother’s wombs

4. I consecrated you

Faithlife Study Bible (Chapter 1)

I consecrated you Jeremiah has been set apart or consecrated for a special purpose or task. This phrase completes a triad, “I formed you … I knew you … I consecrated you,” which defines what it means for Jeremiah to be a prophet to the nations. Unlike other prophets from Israel’s past, Jeremiah has been designated to communicate the voice of God to foreign powers and kings as well to Israel and Judah.

5. I appointed you a prophet to the nations

Jeremiah 1:6–10 (ESV)

Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” But the Lord said to me,

“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.

Do not be afraid of them,

for I am with you to deliver you,

declares the Lord.”

Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me,

“Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.

See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms,

to pluck up and to break down,

to destroy and to overthrow,

to build and to plant.”

The Call Ezekiel

Faithlife Study Bible (Chapter 2)

Son of man The Hebrew word used here, ben-adam, also could be understood as “son of Adam.” Yahweh uses this term to address Ezekiel 93 times in this book (for comparison, it appears only six more times in the OT). Yahweh never refers to Ezekiel by name.

Ezekiel 2:1–10 (ESV)

And he said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.” And as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. And he said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them. And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions. Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house.

“But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe.

What happened when He ate the Scroll

Ezekiel 3:1–3 (ESV)

And he said to me, “Son of man, eat whatever you find here. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” So I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat. And he said to me, “Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it.” Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey.

The Calling Isaiah

Faithlife Study Bible (Chapter 6)

who will go for us? The biblical descriptions of God’s heavenly deliberations often include a plural address. The plural can be understood most simply as God addressing the divine beings present in His throne room, and asking them a rhetorical question—knowing Isaiah will respond. A mark of a true prophet was that he had stood in the divine council and received his mission directly from God. See Gen 1:26 and note; Jer 23:18; 1 Kgs 22:19–23.

Isaiah 6:8–9 (ESV)

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” And he said, “Go, and say to this people:

“ ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand;

keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’

The Calling of John

Revelation 1:12 (ESV)

Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands,

Revelation 1:17 (ESV)

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last,

Faithlife Study Bible (Chapter 1)

Falling to the ground from reverence and fear is a common reaction to encounters with the divine

Few Lessons

1. God has a Purpose for all of us

2. Every Calling is equally important

3. God’s calling always is Beyond our ability

a. We may not always fully understand God’s ways

b. What God may call us to do may be scary and out of reach

c. Sometimes, God’s call does not look like it is

d. But when we are afraid, God himself, will grant us the courage

Many Biblical characters had to be almost pushed into there callings.

Gideon - A fearful warrior from one of the least of tribes

Jonah - a disobedient prophet to a foreign nation

Samson - a disobedient judge

For some it seemed smooth, but there were other challenges

Abraham - accepted God’s call but listened to the wife

Isaac - obeyed God, but feel in a similar pattern to the father

Jacob - He was a deceiver until his name was changed

Joseph - Lacked wisdom but God used the jealous of hi brothers to take him where he needed him to be for the sake of many

David - was a simple shepherd boy who also had a weakness with women

and Solomon - He caused people to worship idles and had thousands of women.

The Ultimate Example

Jesus came with one purpose and he did not waver from it

the Disciples learned from him and they understood the Mission

Paul, a skeptic also had an encounter and became the great Apostle

Revelation 5:1–14 (ESV)

Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are you to take the scroll

and to open its seals,

for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God

from every tribe and language and people and nation,

and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,

and they shall reign on the earth.”

Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice,

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,

to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might

and honor and glory and blessing!”

And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb

be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Jesus is the ultimate example that must inspire us

All the Biblical Characters had weaknesses, only Jesus was perfect

Everything Finds its perfection in him including our callings!