Jeremiah 16-20 - "Jeremiah Wants To Quit!"

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There are a lot of jobs I would hate to do, but probably none more so than that which was given the prophet Jeremiah. If he were alive today I dare to even think that most pastors would have him preach in their pulpit. His message was harsh and full of doom and gloom. But, then again, the messages he gave to the people of his day weren't his. They were God's messages. God was trying to get the people to repent of their wicked ways and to avoid the disaster that was to come if they didn't. Sadly, his messages fell on deaf ears and eventually the people hated him so much that they wanted to silence him for good.  How would you like to have a ministry or job like that?

Let's pause for a second and look back through the first chapter of Jeremiah up until today's passages. I'd like to take a glimpse at Jeremiah's ministry as it unfolds within these first 20 chapters.

Jeremiah's Ministry To Date:

1) He was called by God to this ministry BEFORE he was born! - 1:4-5

2) At a young age (perhaps late teens or early 20's) God informs him of his ministry. - 1:6

3) He doubts God and doesn't believe he's up to the task due to his young age. - 1.7

4) God warns him if he doesn't get out and share His message, He will embarrass him in front of his peers. - 1:17

5) Within a short time, Jeremiah is hating his task! - 10:22-24

6) Jeremiah is warned by God of a plot to kill him. - 11:25

7) Jeremiah complains to God about the ministry He gave him. - 12:1-2

8) Jeremiah wishes he had died at birth so that he didn't have to do this task. - 15:10

9) Jeremiah grows increasingly depressed over the job he's been given. - 15:15-18

10) Jeremiah has had enough and QUITS! - 15:19

11) Jeremiah realizes he can't quit and God restores him to the ministry. 15:20

12) Jeremiah is riddled with ridicule every time he preaches. - 17:15

13) Jeremiah is arrested, whipped, put in stocks, and humiliated at one of the main gates. 20:1-2

14) Again, Jeremiah curses the day he was born wishing he didn't have this ministry. 20:14-18

I can only imagine what his resume would have looked like if he ever tried to get a pastor's job today:

- I was called and anointed by God at a young age.

- I was a hell, fire, and brimstone doom and gloom preacher.

- People hated my preaching and ridiculed me constantly.

- I constantly battled depression.

- I eventually quit for a period of time because things were so bad, but came back to it.

- The head pastor thought I was nuts and had me arrested, whipped, and humiliated.

- Quite honestly, I wish I had never been born!

Can you imagine reading a resume like this?  Would it interest you to hire him as your pastor? Probably not! But, he was faithful to His God! Often times, God calls us to do things that are way out of our comfort zone. But when He does, He's always faithful to be there to help us!

I've told hundreds of people over the years the following - "I've done everything I never wanted to do in life."  You've got to keep in mind that while most people think of me as being an extrovert, the truth is I'm an introvert. And as such, I never wanted to speak in front of people. I never wanted to start a business or ministry or anything at all. But, at the young age of 15, God called me to preach. However, my plans were to be a medical doctor. However, to add more suprise to my life, at the young age of 20, God had me join Youth for Christ as an evangelist, where I also hosted a daily radio program, hosted a few TV shows, and traveled the USA extensively to speak in youth groups, churches, youth camps, and in high school assemblies. Later, at the age of 35, God called me to start a church. I was scared to death and I didn't have a clue on how to start anything, much less a church. But it became one of the fastest growing churches in Missouri. By the time I was 40, God had me training many top levels managers and leaders in Fortune 500 companies throughout the United States and Canada and became one of the top trainers at one of the nation's leading training company. Shortly thereafter, I joined my dad in a financial and tax business - yuk! But, God blessed us there where we built a very successful business. By age 51, Satan turned my world upside down! I lost my wife through divorce and my dad through an untimely death. I also encountered numerous disasters. So, in my life I've worked in ways I've never dreamed or wanted. However, God always gave me the passion, the joy, and the drive once I accepted the job from the Lord.

Be a Jeremiah!  Be willing to follow God into whatever He calls you to do. It's the only way to true joy and happiness.  

What do you think God is calling you to do?

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