God’s call to a prophet often reveals a profound destiny and extraordinary personal providence. The divine message makes it clear that the prophet's mission is not an accidental or sudden decision, but a core purpose embedded in his very existence long before he entered the world.
The process of this calling unfolds through sequential stages of creation and preparation. The initial stage involves the shaping and formation of the child in the belly, a time when physical and moral traits begin to crystallize. This phase is distinct from the subsequent stage of leaving the womb and entering the world [מלבי״ם]. God's intimate knowledge of the prophet during this early time is not merely intellectual. Rather, it is an expression of deep affection, recognition, and personal providence, singling him out for a uniquely close relationship [רש״י, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ] and a position of greatness [רד״ק]. Following this recognition, God prepares and sanctifies him for his future role [רש״י, מצודת דוד], culminating in an official appointment to his mission [מצודת ציון].
The concept of being chosen before birth is deeply significant. Some explain that the prophet's soul was already known from the time of the First Man, when God revealed all future generations and their prophets to him [רש״י]. God shares this preordained destiny specifically to strengthen the prophet's heart, foreseeing that he would initially want to refuse the heavy mission. By knowing he was prepared for this role from his very beginning, he could find the courage to accept it [רד״ק].
However, this predetermined calling raises a natural question regarding human free will. One perspective suggests that being destined for prophecy did not strip away his ability to choose. He still possessed the freedom to become a wicked prophet, much like Balaam, but he actively chose the path of goodness [אהבת יהונתן]. Another approach distinguishes between a standard prophet and a public messenger of God. While a regular prophet must actively prepare himself for prophecy through his nature and daily actions, a public messenger receives this natural preparation directly from God during his physical formation. God then grants him the necessary readiness of action and holiness before he even leaves the womb [מלבי״ם]. This innate preparation was further supported by his parents, who maintained a state of holiness and purity during the pregnancy [רד״ק]. Additionally, the astrological alignment during his formation and birth was perfectly suited to foster good traits, aiding him in developing his moral character [אהבת יהונתן].
Regarding the specific target of his mission, commentators offer different perspectives on his appointment to address the nations. The primary approach is that he was appointed to deliver prophecies concerning the various nations surrounding Israel [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This role is deeply connected to his ancestry, as he was a descendant of Rahab. His roots made him uniquely suited to rebuke the very nations from which his family originated [אהבת יהונתן]. Conversely, an allegorical view suggests that the target actually refers to the Israelites themselves. During that era, the people had corrupted their ways and were acting like idol worshippers. In this light, a striking parallel emerges between him and Moses; both leaders sternly rebuked the nation, and both served as prophets for exactly forty years [רש״י].