The Birth of a Prophet

Jeremiah had this calling on his life, before his conception and birth. A prophet to the nations, “Set over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant” (Jeremiah 1:10). Jeremiah’s birth signalled a major threat to the kingdom of darkness. His birth would also advance the kingdom of God in the earth. Jeremiah was called the weeping prophet, due to his constant lamentations over Israel. Imagine being the mouthpiece of God, who can sense the emotions of God concerning your nation. Jeremiah lamented their backsliding, idolatry and eventual bondage due to their sins.

Despite his cries to repentance, the people were hard hearted and disobedient. Jeremiah also faced physical threats and chastisement. “Then Pashhur beat Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the upper Benjamin Gate of the house of the Lord” (Jeremiah 20:2). This made Jeremiah consider taking a vow of silence, yet the word of God was to Jeremiah a burden, or a burning sensation that he could not quench. Jeremiah was not the only prophet despised, as we also see death and destruction surrounding the birth of Moses. Pharaoh was threatened by the increase of the Israelite population.

“And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us” (Exodus 1:9). The initial order was to oppress the people, but they multiplied even more. Next was the order to the midwives to kill all the male children. As this did not work, the next order was to throw all the male children into the river Nile. This would include Moses, but his mother was defiant about keeping her son alive. Howbeit, Moses was a child of promise. A prophet and a deliverer of God’s children. The devil could not kill Moses, but that certainly did not stop him from trying.

The birth of Jesus was also threatening to the devil and his agents. Herod sought to kill him and when this plan fell through, he also killed all the male children in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1-18). The devil can sense greatness in a seed and somehow knows when a child is conceived for greatness. His strategy will be to try and prevent conception, or to order annihilation at birth. This is his attempt at stopping the impact, which God intends for his prophets. We know that the plans and purposes of God, always outweighs the schemes of satan. He cannot usurp God’s divine authority. He can try to frustrate and cause misery, but God makes all things new.

Your conception and birth may have been surrounded by difficult circumstances. Yet you are chosen of the Lord, to proclaim the good news of the gospel to the world. Remember that your very existence serves as a constant irritant to the devil. You will not be silenced, frustrated or constantly bombarded by the enemy. God has a winning strategy and as you remain connected, he will destroy the works of the darkness. “So shall they fear The name of the Lord from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him” (Isaiah 59:19).

A.P.-Y.