God has the amazing ability to do things that simply do not make sense to mankind. In fact, in one place in scripture, God said that what He was doing could not be understood even if He explained it. Because God created all He can use anything in creation. Including those who don’t believe He exists. It’s something we can clearly see within the pages of our Bible. So while many American Christians worry about what will take place in the coming years I find peace in knowing that God can use even the most unlikely candidates to accomplish His will.
Just as He did with Pharaoh who placed no faith in the God of Israel. God Himself said that He used Pharaoh so that His name would be known on all the earth. Moses was sent by the Lord multiple times to Pharaoh asking for the release of the Hebrews. Each time Moses would perform a mighty sign to convince Pharaoh of Gods’ power but each time God would harden his heart. Causing him to not let the people go. Until finally it came to the Red Sea where the Egyptian army was destroyed and the tale spread across the world to the glory of God.
Exodus 9:16 (ESV)
16 But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.
Another unlikely person used by God was King Cyrus of Persia. A man who lived in a time in which only Jews served the one true God. Who would have had his own beliefs and gods that contradicted much of the Bible. Yet, God used him to rebuild the temple and allow Jews to return to their land. God even gave prophecy through Isaiah that this very thing would take place. A prophecy we can imagine would have seemed quite improbable to those who heard. But God did just that and used a sinning Gentile to begin the process of restoring Israel.
Isaiah 44:28 (ESV)
28 who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd,
and he shall fulfill all my purpose’;
saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built,’
and of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’ ”
Ezra 1:1–2 (ESV)
1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:
2 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
Scripture even points to the fact that God used Cyrus even though he didn’t know God. Showing us that our God can and will use anyone even though they don’t know Him.
Isaiah 45:4 (ESV)
4 For the sake of my servant Jacob,
and Israel my chosen,
I call you by your name,
I name you, though you do not know me.
The Pharisees believed they were serving God but in reality, they didn’t even know Him. Which is why they completely missed the Messiah when they stood right beside Him. As they plotted how to murder Jesus they had no idea they were accomplishing God’s will. Causing a sacrifice to take place that would open salvation up to all people. God used this unlikely group of people to accomplish His greatest work and they had no idea.
Matthew 12:14 (ESV)
14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.
1 John 2:2 (ESV)
2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
John 3:16 (ESV)
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Before the Apostle Paul wrote his letter he was known as Saul. He fought against God and hoped to destroy the early church. In the eyes of the Jews, Saul would be seen as a warrior of the faith. But through the lens of the New Testament, he is seen as a wicked man. An unlikely person to be used by God. But before his salvation took place God was still using Him. As the persecution he inflicted was just the jump-start the early church needed to start taking the Gospel to the rest of the world. Which caused the church to grow rapidly.
Acts 8:1–4 (ESV)
1 And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. 4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.
All of these people are unlikely choices to be used by God since they didn’t truly know or believe in Him. Yet He was still able to accomplish His will through them. In many cases without them even realizing that they were being used by God. God is still using unlikely people to accomplish His will on earth today. Even those who don’t believe and even speak against. God can use anyone and anything.
The book of proverbs also gives us insight into this. Stating that the plans of men are many but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. Many that people can plan to do much but is God that will always have the final say. Guiding our world whether we are able to see it or not. It doesn’t mean everything will also go perfectly or the way we hope. But it does mean everything will happen as God sees fit.
Proverbs 19:21 (ESV)
21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
As Christians, we have nothing to fear or worry about because we know that God is in control. Nothing will ever be able to affect God’s will. The Israelites and the church did face some tough times and we may too. But we can find hope in knowing that God is in control, He works all things for our God, and no suffering we face know will even be able to cast a shadow on the glory we will receive in Heaven.
Romans 8:28 (ESV)
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:18 (ESV)
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Recent events may not have gone how you hoped and the signs may seem bleak. But our God is mightier than any office or country. Able to do exceedingly and abundantly using unlikely people to further His plans. So continue to trust in Him and you won’t be disappointed. This could be the begging of a time of great growth for the church. You truly never know God could be doing something right that we wouldn’t understand even if He told us.
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