When God Orders The Steps – Jeremiah

Jeremiah 1: 4 -10

Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Then I said, “Alas, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, because I am a youth.”

But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ because everywhere I send you, you shall go, and all that 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 stretched 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 appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”

Jeremiah prophesied during the reign of five kings of Judah – Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin and Zedekiah. Despite the revival that took place during the reign of King Josiah, the people of Judah reverted back to their evil ways. Despite the warnings from various prophets, the people continued to indulge in their abominations. During his life time, Jeremiah witnessed Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, invade, ransack, and capture Judah and the city of God – Jerusalem. The king of Babylon launched three campaigns, took captive the Jews and brought them as slaves to Babylon.

When God called Jeremiah, He told him that He appointed him as a prophet even before he was conceived in his mother’s womb. Jeremiah may have been a young man when God called him. In his case, Jeremiah didn’t have a choice. He was hand picked by God to speak the words that God commanded. Despite his protestation of his being a youth, God appointed him as a prophet. Jeremiah had to endure mockery, torture, starvation, whenever he prophesied. In his latter years, he grew fearless of the punishments he received because he knew he was in God’s hands.

Jeremiah constantly reminded the people of Judah to seek the ancient paths, paths where God led them. However, they refused. Jeremiah reminded them to listen and obey the watchmen appointed for their own good. However, they did not listen. Jeremiah warned them about the invasion of a foreign pagan kingdom who could obliterate the kingdom of Judah and destroy the temple. Yet, they ignored. Once the people were taken into captivity, he told them to settle in the foreign land, plant gardens, and pray for their rulers. Even though, Jeremiah was far away in Judea, he sent letters filled with prophecies from God through messengers to the exiles in Babylon.

When the commander of Nebuchadnezzar left behind a remnant in Jerusalem, Jeremiah urged the remnant to remain in the land to tend and take care of the remains. He tried his best to convince them to stay in Judea to be under God’s protection. However, a group of people did not heed to Jeremiah’s warnings and chose to take the help of Egyptians. Jeremiah too was forced to go with them. God warned that they would be captured and killed. Jeremiah may have lost his life when Nebuchadnezzar chased after this remnant who tried to escape to Egypt.

In all his life, Jeremiah remained faithful to God, obeyed His commands and spoke only when God commanded him to speak. His prophesy that the children of Israel will return home after seventy years of captivity and rebuild the temple and the city gave immense hope to Daniel, Ezekiel and other exiles in Babylon. Jeremiah did not live to see the prophesy being fulfilled but he accomplished the work that God appointed him for. Jeremiah’s life was ordered by the Lord even before he was conceived. Nothing could go wrong even though he did not understand in that moment.

Dear Saints, we go through life wondering where we are headed. In several instances, we don’t understand the will of God. We cruise through life thinking that some day we will hit the target. However, if we trust God with our lives, and our future irrespective of the trials we might have to face, of the uncertainty we might have to deal with, of the mockery we might have to endure and so much more, we can be rest assured that our end goal will be accomplished. God, in His divine plan, will accomplish all His purposes. When God orders our steps, nothing can go wrong. All we must do is submit to His will and walk in obedience.

Jeremiah 29: 10 – 14

For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.