I Samuel 16:11
‘And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are these all the children?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep.” Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.”’
I love this aspect of God. He often chooses people for tasks that no one would. Gideon is a good example. He lived about 150 years before king David. The Lord chose Gideon to rescue his people. An angel appeared to him when they were enslaved and he was out refining wheat. He was doing so in the most hidden way possible. The angel greeted him by saying, '"When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior"', (Judges 6:12). His behavior seemed more cowardly, than courageous.
Gideon didn't see himself as a good choice. He responded to the angel in verse 15, 'He said to Him, “O Lord, how shall I deliver Israel? Behold, my family is the least in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s house.”' We often have the same response to God's choice. We are often surprised by His selection.
Jesus Himself got questions about His qualifications. One such comment came about His origins. Nathaniel, the apostle said, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth". The rulers of the day also criticized Him for associating with tax collectors, sinners and prostitutes. This was even prophesied about Jesus in Psalm 118:22 , "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone."
Why does the Lord like to do this? He gets the glory. In Gideon's case, he described himself as the least of the least. No one was going to say he was a brilliant general. Also, the Lord had him reduce his army to a tiny fraction of the size of the enemy. There was to be no mistaking that God rescued them.
The Lord wants to use us for His glory. We may not think we are equipped to do what He asks. Moses argued with the Lord when he was called into His service. He complained that he wasn't gifted in speech (Exodus 4:10). Like Moses, we let our insecurities get in the way.
How do we get over our fears when God calls us to a task? Take one step at a time. We don't have to have the entire plan worked out. Often moving causes the fear to subside. Being frozen in inactivity is our problem. For Moses, it would have been to begin the Journey to Egypt. Just move in that direction. Once we get going, things tend to work themselves out.
His calling is a great blessing. As we follow Him, He leads us to places we would never have imagined. I Corinthians 2:9 says, 'Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.”' It's how God is, He loves to bless His people. It may be things, relationships or opportunities. If we trust Him, He brings us to heights that we wouldn't have dreamed of.
The apostles were regular guys. They ended up being world changers. Acts 4:13 says, "Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus." The Lord does that to us as well. He will equip us and give us the confidence to obey His will. May it be said of us, that others would say that they would recognize us as having been with Jesus.
Paul puts it like this in I Corinthians 1:26,27 says, "For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong." What a privilege to be called and used of God. He makes us much better than we are.
Lord, thank You for Your calling. Thank You for gifting and empowering us to do Your will. Thank You for bringing us on Your team. Help us to point to You in all that we do.