The Bible is rich with stunning examples of listeners willing to answer God's call to serve humanity's need for spiritual growth.

The Hebrew Bible

Moses was a simple shepherd when he got his call to be God's ambassador to the Hebrew people and to become their leader. What got his attention? He thought he saw a bush that was on fire but didn't burn up. Then he heard God's voice telling him that he was to negotiate the release of the Hebrews, who had been enslaved by the Egyptians for hundreds of years. Moses did not say, "What a fantastic assignment!" He made excuses to show that God had picked the wrong man: Moses saw himself as a nobody; he really didn't know the nature of this voice addressing him; he had no negotiating skills; and he felt personally inadequate. But the call persisted, demanding action. Moses' ultimate response? He gained the liberation of his people, going down in history as the great Hebrew leader.

All of the prophets were called. Priesthood and kingship could be inherited, but a prophet had to be called by God to do God's work.

Jeremiah, at age 17, heard "the word of the Lord" saying that God had known him before he was "formed in the womb" and that before he was born God had appointed him to be "a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah's first reaction? "I don't know how to speak. I am a boy." God replied, "Don't say, 'I am a boy.' You'll go to all to whom I send you."

Furthermore, God told Jeremiah that he would speak what God commanded him, because God would put the words in his mouth. He was not to be afraid, because God was with him "to deliver him."

A prophet speaks: "And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant." (Jeremiah 1:9, 10)

Jeremiah's career spanned 57 turbulent years. He believed the nation's future was directly tied to its spiritual practice, and since the people had strayed so far from their covenant with God, Jeremiah could see only their destruction if they failed to repent and return to God. He wore a yoke around his neck to show the people what their life would be like under foreign nations.

This prophet gave up everything in response to the call. In a society where family and community were the sole support system, both abandoned him. There were plots against Jeremiah's life; he was put in stocks and left in a well to die. Harassment and false accusations were his daily fare. He grieved to God but never rejected His call. And Jeremiah persisted in looking forward to a day when there would be a new covenant with God, one written on the heart and not on tables of stone—when people would not need to tell each other about God, because individual consciousness would be filled with the Word.

The New Testament

Jesus' response to his call as the Son of God fulfilled prophecy. He paraphrased Second Isaiah's announcement when he said: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor" (Luke 4:18-19). Jesus gave everything in response to his call by submitting to crucifixion, rising in resurrection, and demonstrating that life is spiritual in his ascension.

Paul's mission to destroy the followers of Jesus was reversed when his call came—literally blinding him with its light. Paul addressed the light as "Lord" (see Acts 9). Ultimately his response to the call included traveling throughout the Greek-speaking world proclaiming, speaking, preaching, witnessing, obeying, confirming, the Gospel. Paul's response was tireless—the records we have indicate his working hours were 24/7.

The call today

What about today? Is there not now a call to respond to the spiritual needs to our nations? What about the response of the individual in this age? Who will be the next modernday Jeremiah or Paul?