Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Jeremiah 1:5 KJV
Every phrase in this verse is important as they express the intimate work of God in Jeremiah’s life. (1) God foreknew him. God knew everything about him when he was still only a thought in God’s mind. (2) God formed him in his mother’s womb. He could say along with the psalmist (Psalm 139:13-18) that he was fearfully and wonderfully made because God’s fingerprints were all over him. (3) Before Jeremiah came forth from the womb God sanctified him. God set Jeremiah apart for Himself. (4) Then God ordained him. Jeremiah’s course in life was established by God before he was even born. God showed Himself to be sovereign in Jeremiah’s life just as He is in each of our lives.
Lord, it is comforting to realize that You are in control of every part of our lives. We are known by You even before conception, and our course is set even before birth. I must admit it is hard to fully comprehend. What can I say? I can fight against Your will for my life, or I can humbly submit to it. As clay in a potter’ hands I surrender myself to You.
