I grew up on a dairy farm and my older brother was involved in showing young cattle. One of the first steps in showing cattle is teaching them how to be led. By nature, they just want to dig their feet in and not be led. Overtime and with effective training a calf can learn how to be led.
As people we are much like the calf who digs his heels in preventing the trainer from leading us. In real life our trainer is the Lord. Although being led is the best thing for us our sinful nature wants to often go in the opposite direction. Maybe you have done this in your own life with tearful results. I know I have, and it was a difficult lesson to learn.
In a sense the nation of Judah was like the calf who could not be led. Like a good trainer the Lord did not give up on them but took drastic measures to change their hearts. The Prophet of God called Jeremiah was to preach to the nation of Judah during the last few years before it will be exiled. God has spoken to Jeremiah using images. When God called him, he was given a vision of a boiling pot pouring over from the north to describe how Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, would come and destroy the nation. God also used a story of linen shorts that rotted to show how God would rot the pride of the nation. God would humble the hearts of the people by exiling them to Babylon. There they would realize they needed to turn back to God.
The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:14, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.” [1]
Where in your life is the Lord calling you to set aside want you want for what the Lord wants? If you struggle with being led by the Lord, simply confess that to the Lord and ask Him to forgive you. Also, ask the Lord to change your heart so you want to follow. What would your life look like if the Lord was leading you each day? How would that change the way you interact with others?
To hear more of Jeremiah’s story, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/series/journey-with-jeremiah/jeremiahs-belt
If you would like more teaching on Jeremiah listen to these podcasts:
[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Ro 8:14). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.