Compare Amos 7:15 with Jeremiah 1:5 on divine calling and purpose. Setting the Scene • Amos 7:15 — “But the LORD took me from following the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to My people Israel.’” • Jeremiah 1:5 — “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” God’s Initiative in Calling • Both callings begin with the LORD’s direct action; neither Amos nor Jeremiah volunteers or negotiates. • Scripture consistently presents vocation as God-initiated (Isaiah 6:8; Acts 9:15). Timing and Preparation • Jeremiah: chosen “before…in the womb,” revealing a pre-temporal purpose (Psalm 139:16; Ephesians 1:4). • Amos: summoned during adult life while shepherding, showing God also intervenes abruptly in ordinary routines (Exodus 3:1–4). • Together, the verses teach that divine purpose can precede birth and also intersect daily labor. Purpose and Scope • Jeremiah: “prophet to the nations” — an international horizon. • Amos: “prophesy to My people Israel” — a targeted, covenant community focus. • Different scopes, same divine authority; God custom-fits tasks to individuals (1 Corinthians 12:4-6). Backgrounds That Highlight Grace • Jeremiah: youthful, priestly lineage yet feeling inadequate (Jeremiah 1:6). • Amos: shepherd and fig-dresser, outside professional prophecy circles (Amos 7:14). • God’s call is not limited by age, status, or education (1 Samuel 16:7). Empowerment Accompanies Commission • Jeremiah receives God’s word placed in his mouth (Jeremiah 1:9). • Amos speaks with divine authority despite outsider status (Amos 3:8). • The pattern echoes throughout Scripture: where God sends, He equips (2 Corinthians 3:5-6). Harmony with the Broader Biblical Narrative • Paul recognizes a womb-time call similar to Jeremiah’s (Galatians 1:15). • Moses and David experience mid-life redirection akin to Amos (Exodus 3; 1 Samuel 16). • Ephesians 2:10 affirms both truths: works prepared beforehand yet discovered in real-time obedience. Takeaways for Today • God’s sovereignty shapes individual purpose long before awareness and right in the middle of routine. • Varying assignments carry equal value because they originate from the same Lord. • Feelings of inadequacy or obscurity do not negate divine appointment; God’s mandate and enablement remain decisive. |
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