Four part series on Jeremiah 1:5 – Week 1
Scripture (Jeremiah 1:5, ESV)
5 “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you,
and before you were born, I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
Illustration (Imagine This…)
Imagine a new mother tracing a tiny birthmark on her baby’s wrist and thinking, “That little mark could only have been placed there on purpose.” In the same way, God’s foreknowledge is like His signature on each life He creates.
Reflection
From the dawn of creation, before Jeremiah took a single breath, God’s sovereign purpose was at work. “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you…” It is not a poetic flourish but a staggering declaration of divine intimacy and foreknowledge. In this brief verse, we see three truths that anchor our faith:
- God’s Eternal Sovereignty. He is not surprised by our arrival or our struggles. His reign stretches back to “before”—before time, before space, before we knew Him. When He speaks, history bends to His word.
- Personal Divine Knowledge. To “know” someone in the Bible is more than information; it is an intimate, covenantal relationship. Long before our first heartbeat, God pondered our joys, counted our tears, and fashioned our gifts.
- Purpose Over Performance. Notice: God’s choice of Jeremiah did not hinge on his eloquence or pedigree. It was rooted in God’s agenda, not Jeremiah’s résumé—our worth flows from His calling, not our accomplishments.
Application
- If insecurity whispers that you’re an accident, remember you were born of divine intention.
- When you feel unprepared, recall that God’s sovereign knowledge precedes your ability.
- Let His pre-forming love free you from performance-based approval.
Prayer
“Father, thank You for knowing me so completely. Help me rest in Your sovereign plan and find confidence in Your unchanging purposes.”
――
Pastor Brad Little
