What other biblical examples show God using unexpected methods to fulfill His purposes? 2 Kings 5:9—A Doorstep of Surprise “Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house.” (2 Kings 5:9) Naaman expected grand ceremony, yet God had Elisha send a simple command: “Go, wash in the Jordan seven times” (v. 10). The cure arrived through an unimpressive river and an unassuming prophet, showcasing the Lord’s delight in overturning human expectations. Unexpected Strategies in Battle • Gideon’s 300 (Judges 7:2-7). “With the three hundred men who lapped I will deliver you.” God trimmed Israel’s army so victory could only be credited to Him. • Jericho’s silent march (Joshua 6:2-5). Trumpets, not battering rams, brought the walls down. • Jehoshaphat’s choir (2 Chronicles 20:21-22). Praise—rather than swords—routed the enemy. Unlikely Messengers and Vessels • Balaam’s donkey (Numbers 22:28). “The LORD opened the donkey’s mouth.” An animal rebuked a prophet. • A raven catering service (1 Kings 17:4-6). Carnivorous birds delivered bread and meat to Elijah. • A widow’s last morsel feeding a prophet and her family (1 Kings 17:9-16). Flour and oil multiplied daily. • Samson’s donkey jawbone (Judges 15:15). A discarded bone felled a thousand Philistines. Insufficient Resources Turned into Abundance • Widow’s oil jars (2 Kings 4:2-6). Empty vessels became a private refinery. • Five loaves and two fish (John 6:9-11). “He distributed to those seated as much as they wanted.” Twelve baskets of leftovers testified to divine multiplication. • Cana’s waterpots (John 2:6-10). Ordinary wash-water transformed into choice wine. Obscure People, Great Deliverance • David with a sling (1 Samuel 17:40-47). The youngest shepherd toppled a seasoned warrior. • Ruth the Moabitess (Ruth 2:10-12). A foreign widow became great-grandmother of David and ancestor of Messiah. • Esther in Persia (Esther 4:14-16). An orphaned exile protected the covenant people from genocide. Instruments of Weakness and Suffering • Joseph’s imprisonment (Genesis 50:20). “You intended evil… but God intended it for good.” A slave became Egypt’s savior. • A bronze serpent in the wilderness (Numbers 21:8-9). Looking at a metal snake healed snakebites—prefiguring Christ (John 3:14-15). • Paul’s thorn (2 Corinthians 12:9). “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” The Supreme Paradox: Salvation through the Cross • Prophecy foretold a suffering Servant (Isaiah 53:3-5). “By His stripes we are healed.” • The message of the cross confounds worldly wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:18-25). What looked like defeat became eternal victory. Takeaway From Naaman’s muddy dip to the empty tomb, Scripture repeatedly highlights God’s habit of choosing the unexpected so “no flesh may glory in His presence” (1 Corinthians 1:29). Trust Him when His methods baffle; His purposes never fail. |
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