God Loves to Use the Insignificant

During Advent, the scriptures tell us of Christ’s birth. The details are unique and filled with miracles. But have you ever noticed how the scriptures point to God using the insignificant? In the Old and New Testaments, you can find instances where God uses those people or things despised by the world.

But why does God choose the insignificant? 

Old Testament Examples 

Micah Prophesied the Birth of Christ in a Small Village

Micah was a prophet who lived about 700 years before Christ; he was a contemporary of Isaiah and Hosea. He lived during a time of great upheaval, turmoil, and uncertainty. It was a time similar to our times. 

God chose to give Micah prophesies of the Messiah. Israel was suffering from a string of unfaithful and evil kings, while the people also became unfaithful, with some turning to worship idols. Those who were faithful wondered if God still kept His covenant with Israel. 

So, He let His people know He was still their God and cared for them. Our Lord gave Micah some amazing prophecies; some were doom and gloom, while others were some of the most beautiful predictions of the coming Messiah, God’s Son. 

In Micah 5:2 NKJV, we read: 

But out of you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.

God’s message was that yes, He still loved His people, Israel, and that He had a plan for them. That plan included the other people of the Earth, too, the Gentiles. While some of Micah’s prophesies were pretty scary, God promised that out of His people, the Messiah of the world would be born, and He would be born in a pretty insignificant place called Bethlehem. 

Through the ages, Bethlehem was a sleepy, small village on the outskirts of Jerusalem. The town sat in the midst of an agricultural area where shepherds kept their flocks, and crops were grown. Bethlehem was an insignificant place. But the village has a fascinating history. 

Some History of Insignificant Bethlehem

Rachel 

Unless you’ve studied the Bible somewhat, you may not realize that Bethlehem was an important part of Jesus’ lineage. Head over to Genesis 35:16-19. There, you’ll find the story of Rachel and how she gave birth to Benjamin (brother of Jospeh). 

Rachel was the wife of Jacob, and for years, she was barren. She was tormented by the failure to produce children for her husband. But God heard her prayers and gave her two sons. Unfortunately, Rachel had a hard labor and died giving birth to Benjamin. 

Jacob buried his wife near Ephrath (Bethlehem), where you can still visit Rachel’s tomb today. 

Naomi & Ruth

Next, you can read the story of Naomi and Ruth in the Old Testament book of Ruth. Naomi and her family had originally lived in Bethlehem, but they had to move when a time of intense famine came upon the land. So, they moved to Moab and stayed there many years. Over time, however, Naomi’s husband and two sons died. She was left with her two daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah. 

At first, both Orpah and Ruth were determined to follow Naomi back to her homeland to care for her. Naomi tried to discourage them both. All three had started on the road to Bethlehem, but ultimately, Orpah decided to return to her family’s home. So, that left Naomi and Ruth to travel on together. Ruth was determined to travel with her mother-in-law. 

Ruth ended up marrying one of Naomi’s family members, a prosperous man named Boaz. They settled in Bethlehem and had a family. Later, our Savior, Jesus Christ, would be born from this family line, including King David. 

King David

Did you know that King David was from Bethlehem? You can read about his story in 1 Samuel Chapter 1, where the prophet Samuel travels to the village to anoint David as the king of Israel. Even here, God chose the insignificant shepherd boy and anointed him as king. This was David. He was a young man, the youngest son of Jesse. The scriptures say he was a handsome boy with a pleasing appearance, but he was only a young shepherd at the time. How could a shepherd boy become king, especially one from an insignificant place like Bethlehem? 

All of these examples involved Jesus' lineage and family history. There's much more to it than this, but can you see how God used the insignificant throughout to accomplish His will and fulfill His promise? 

New Testament Examples: Mary & Joseph 

Now, consider Mary, the mother of our Lord Jesus. She was descended from the line of King David, but her family was relatively poor. Yet, God chose her to be the mother of our Lord. Why? Because Mary was humble and loved God. She was a little taken by the angel’s message in the beginning, but when he finished, Mary gave her permission to do God’s will and carry the precious Messiah. 

Consider that Mary was not even married at the time. She was betrothed to Joseph, who was a carpenter. Joseph was also a descendant of King David, but he was also not rich. God sent an angel to Joseph, too. In a dream, the angel came to Joseph and explained the situation. The angel said that Mary carried life that was conceived by the Holy Spirit. He also told Joseph that Mary would give birth to a son and that His name should be Jesus. So, Joseph obeyed and took Mary as His wife before she gave birth. 

These two people may have seemed insignificant to others; however, in God’s eyes, Mary and Joseph were dedicated to Him and His will. They were humble and obedient to God. Here, again, our Lord took two people who appeared to be inconsequential and found them obedient to His plan for the Messiah. 

You can read their story in Matthew 1 and Luke 1-2. 

Bethlehem: Birth of the Messiah 

Finally, Bethlehem where Jesus, the Messiah, was born, as foretold in Micah. In Luke 2:1 NKJV, we read: 

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. 

Joseph and Mary, descendants of King David, had to return to their ancestral home to be registered for the census. They traveled to Bethlehem, and while they were there, Mary gave birth to Jesus. But there’s more. 

Bethlehem was pretty crowded at that time, so crowded that Joseph couldn’t find an inn where he and Mary could stay. Mary was ready to give birth. Can you imagine how frustrating and scared she and Joseph must have felt? The only place where they could have some privacy was in a stable. Mary gave birth to the King of Kings in a stable. Again, God chooses an insignificant place for His son to be born. But that’s not all. 

The only cradle Mary had for her baby was the animals’ feed trough, the manger. She lovingly wrapped Jesus in swaddling clothes and laid Him in the manger. Christ wasn’t born in a palace or laid in a golden cradle with the finest silk bedding. Jesus, our Savior, was born in a stable and slept in a manger. Notice, again, that God used the miniscule for His Son. 

Consider that the little town of Bethlehem also waited many centuries before Jesus' birth. But God gave His promise the Messiah, our Savior, would be born in that sleepy little village. The magi knew of Micah's prediction, as did the Israelite priests and scribes. Think of how many people waited for the Savior's birth over those centuries, yet they trusted that God would fulfill His promise. 

Why Does God Choose the Insignificant? 

The Apostle Paul speaks of God using the insignificant in 1 Corinthians 1:26-27, where he says, 

For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put shame to the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty…”

We’ve looked at several examples in this post where God has chosen those people and places that appeared unimportant and insignificant to the rest of the world. The point is that no one is insignificant to God. He looks for those who are humble and want to do His will. 

God also works in our weakness. We may feel helpless and incapable of following God’s will. But when we turn to Him and depend on our Lord, He can use us and give us the strength and the means to work with and for Him. 

It’s Never Too Late

Are you older and wondering if God can still use you? It’s never too late. Remember that Abraham and Sarah were in their elder years when they had Isaac. The Bible says Noah built the ark when he was 500 years old! Moses was over 80 when God called him to save the Israelites in Egypt. So, it’s never too late to respond to God’s call. 

The point is that God can use each of us if we are humble and obedient to Him. God doesn’t want to use our earthly greatness. He doesn’t want us to rely on our own strength. Instead, our Heavenly Father wants us to depend on Him fully and completely, just as Jesus entirely depended on God to fulfill His ministry. 

Concluding Thoughts

During Advent, ponder how God uses the insignificant. If you’re feeling inconsequential, remember that you’re someone precious in the sight of our Father, and no one is ever insignificant to Him. He loves you with an everlasting love. 

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