What other biblical examples show God using unlikely individuals to achieve His purposes? Goliath’s Forty-Day Taunt (1 Samuel 17:16) “For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening to take his stand.” While the Israelite army trembled, God was preparing a shepherd boy to step onto the field. David’s story is not an isolated incident; Scripture is filled with God hand-picking the least likely to fulfill His plan. God’s Habit of Choosing the Unlikely • His glory shines brightest when human resources are weakest (1 Corinthians 1:27–29). • Courage, wisdom, and victory come from Him, not from pedigree or power. Snapshots of Surprising Servants • Joseph – Rejected Brother, Rescuer of Nations – Genesis 50:20: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good…” – Sold as a slave, imprisoned unjustly, yet positioned to save countless lives. • Moses – Tongue-Tied Fugitive, Voice to Pharaoh – Exodus 3:11: “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh…?” – An eighty-year-old shepherd with a speech impediment confronts the world’s superpower. • Rahab – Canaanite Innkeeper, Ancestor of Messiah – Joshua 2:11: “The LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.” – A foreign woman hides Israel’s spies and enters the lineage of Christ (Matthew 1:5). • Gideon – Timid Thresher, Mighty Warrior – Judges 6:15: “My clan is the weakest… I am the least…” – Leads 300 men with trumpets and torches, routing Midian’s vast army. • Jael – Homemaker with a Hammer – Judges 4:21: one tent peg ends Sisera’s terror. – God uses hospitality supplies as instruments of deliverance. • Samuel – Sleepless Boy, National Prophet – 1 Samuel 3:10: “Speak, for Your servant is listening.” – From bedtime whispers to guiding kings. • Nameless Servant Girl – Captive Counselor – 2 Kings 5:2-3: points Naaman to Elisha, opening the door to his healing and faith. • Esther – Orphan Queen, Protector of Her People – Esther 4:14: “Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” – Risks her life so Israel might live. • Mary – Humble Teen, Mother of the Incarnate Word – Luke 1:48: “He has looked upon the humble state of His servant.” – Her “Yes” brings the Redeemer into the world (Galatians 4:4). • The Boy with Loaves – Small Lunch, Stadium-Sized Feast – John 6:9: “Here is a boy with five barley loaves and two small fish…” – Surrendered snack feeds five thousand; fragments outnumber the offering. • Samaritan Woman – Outcast Turned Evangelist – John 4:39: “Many… believed in Him because of the woman’s testimony.” – A midday water run becomes a village revival. • Peter – Impulsive Fisherman, Bold Preacher – Acts 4:13: leaders “were astonished and recognized that they had been with Jesus.” – Denies under pressure, then proclaims to thousands at Pentecost. • Paul – Persecutor, Apostle to the Nations – Acts 9:15: “This man is My chosen instrument…” – From hunting believers to planting churches across the empire. Encouragement for Today If forty days of taunts echo in your own battles, remember: God delights in equipping unlikely people. Hand Him your weakness—He has a history of turning slings, stutters, and small lunches into giant-toppling victories. |
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