God called Jeremiah to be his prophet to the kingdom of Judah in the days of Josiah their king. His ministry continued for about 40 years, even unto the destruction of Jerusalem and the deportation of the Jews into Babylon. Scholars believe that based on the internal evidence of his prophecy that Jeremiah was a young man, perhaps in his upper teens when God charged him to “go to all that I shall send thee and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak” (Jeremiah 1:7).
Jeremiah did not readily accept this remarkable privilege. Rather, he immediately cried “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak for I am a child” (Jeremiah 1:6). His own impression of his skill sets was probably fairly accurate. That didn’t matter to God. God uses the weak, the foolish (from the world’s perspective), the broken to accomplish his purposes. What God looks for is a willing heart – he provides all the rest.
The stories of God using the least likely means to show forth his power and to make known his glory are repeated over and over in the Scriptures. Moses told God “I am not eloquent…I am slow of speech and of a slow tongue” (Exodus 4:10), yet God used him to lead two million Jews out of Egypt. Gideon questioned God’s plan to use him saying “Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? Behold, my family is poor in Manasseh and I am the least in my father’s house” (Judges 6:15). But God used Gideon with a band of 300 men carrying pitchers and lamps to defeat thousands of Midianites. David, a young shepherd boy, used a sling and stone to defeat the Philistine’s champion, Goliath. The list could go on and on.
God delights to use those who are small and unworthy in their own eyes. Recall the record of Christ feeding the 5,000 men with women and children from five loaves and two fishes. The disciples looked at what the lad had to offer and said “what are they among so many?” (John 6:9). Christ looked at what the boy had and knew it was enough. Suffice it to say that God uses the least likely avenue to supply his grace so that he alone might receive the glory.
There are many tasks that from our vantage point appear to be beyond our reach. We shrink from them because we are convinced that we are simply not sufficient to see them done in our own strength or ability. Yet that is exactly the position God would have us in that he might show himself strong on our behalf. These words of Christ have been proven over and over again by countless believers: “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). It is one thing to discount our own abilities, but it is another thing entirely to discount the Lord’s. If you are small in your own sight, God can use you! “For all these things hath my hand made…but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word” (Isaiah 66:2).
From the Chaplain 