Jeremiah describes his own call in a way that echoes the call of Moses and Joshua. Recognizing these connections highlights an important aspect of what it means to participate with God and his mission in the world. Each of these characters were called to follow the LORD into scary circumstances and each received the same comfort from the LORD: “But I am with you.” The hope of “God with us” is foundational to the hope of God’s people. It’s an important part of articulating a whole Bible gospel message.

Jeremiah’s Call

Twice in Jeremiah chapter 1, we read the LORD comforting him with the words “I am with you to deliver you” (Jeremiah 1:8, 19). The LORD called Jeremiah to be a prophet to the nations (1:5), and Jeremiah’s immediate response was,

“Wait, Lord Yahweh. Look, I don’t know how to speak well. I’m just a boy!” (Jeremiah 1:6).

Yahweh responded,

Don’t be afraid of them because I am with you to deliver you. (Jeremiah 1:8)

Now, notice the similar features of Moses’s call.

Moses

In Exodus, the LORD came down to deliver his people from Egypt’s oppression (Exodus 1:8), and he called Moses to be his prophet, to confront Pharaoh and the nation of Egypt (1:10). Notice how Moses responded,

Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh? …” (Exodus 3:11)

Yahweh responded,

But I will be with you … (Exodus 3:12)

Moses continued to object on the basis of his frailty,

Please, Lord! I’m not a man of words! (Exodus 4:10)

And Yahweh’s comfort remained the same:

… I will be with your mouth …(Exodus 4:12, 15)

This is the foundational hope throughout the rest of the Pentateuch, and when we move into the prophetic history, in the book of Joshua, it doesn’t change. Take a look at Joshua’s call.

Joshua

The author of Joshua makes a big deal of the fact that the LORD is with Joshua just like he was with Moses. The LORD says to Joshua,

No man will stand in your way all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I won’t leave you or forsake you. (Joshua 1:5)

“I am with you” was spoken multiple times to Jeremiah, multiple times to Moses, and multiple times to Joshua (Joshua 1:5, 9, 17; 3:7; 6:27).

Conclusion

The story of God in the Old Testament is rooted in the hope of God with us. It’s no wonder that Matthew bookends his portrait of Jesus with “Immanuel” (Matthew 1:23) and “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (28:20). This has always been the plan, from the opening chapters of Genesis, when God placed humanity in an abundant garden and rested there with them, and it’s where the world is headed. When it’s all said and done, Revelation says we will need no sun, moon, or stars. It’s going to be better than Genesis 1. We won’t need a temple because our temple will be the Lord and the Lamb (Revelation 21:22). We won’t need a lamp because we will dwell with the Lamb (21:23).

Let’s pray that the LORD will strengthen our faith now so that we can better walk “in the new way of the Spirit” (Romans 7:4), to participate with him now in new creation, rather than the old. Help us to follow you Jesus in and through every phase of suffering we enter, leaning on the Father through the Spirit.

God with us is more real than our weak faith and failing bodies.