The Significance of the Seemingly Insignificant
1 Corinthians 1:28
And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
As we look through the Holy Inspired Word of God we are told of many of the often called Heroes of the Bible. Menand women such as Paul, Peter, David, Abraham, Joseph, Noah, Ruth, Esther, and many more. Their actionsand obedience to God is known and their names recognized throughout Christianity. Their names are attached to many significant acts throughout the Bible. But for a moment lets us look at those who may seem insignificant in that no one knows their names because God’s word does not provide them or maybe their names are recorded but forgotten. Let us look at the significance of the seemingly insignificant.
Judges 7:7
And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and
deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.
Judges 7:10-11, 13, 15
10 But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host:
11And thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward shall thine hands be strengthened to
go down unto the host. Then went he down with Phurah his servant unto the outside of the
armed men that were in the host.
13And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said,
Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and cameunto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along.
15And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian.
Brothers and Sisters how seemingly insignificant by name but mighty in actions.
‘The 300 are not named but they passed the test the LORD had given and were chosen for a great battle and a great victory for the LORD. They are known by number and not by name; but their victory brought Glory to the LORD and for that they are recorded in the Holy Inspired Word of God. And that is enough.
Phurah’s name probably couldn’t be remembered by many, but Gideon was told that if “he feared” then go thou down with Phurah. Not much is known of him save that he was a servant of Gideon that relieved the fear of Gideon “10 But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah”. Sometimes maybe we are called to be by someone’s side that will do great things for comfort or encouragement. The world needs Phurah’s too.
‘A man with no name’ Again in a very significant event in the Bible the defeat of the Midianites by Gideon and the 300 there is a man of whom no name is given. But the dream this man told and interpreted was very significant; for when Gideon heard it “he worshipped” and believed that the victory against a mighty foe was to be delivered. We can learn from the man with no name – believe the words God gives us and share them faithfully; they can move others to great action in service to the LORD.
The Man of God
1Kings 13:1-10
1And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and
Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.
2And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD;
Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the
priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men's bones shall be burnt upon thee.
3And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the LORD hath spoken; Behold, the altar
shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.
4And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Bethel, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him.
5The altar also was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD.
6And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Intreat now the face of the LORD thy God, an pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the LORD, and the king's hand was restored him again, and became as it was before.
7And the king said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward.
8And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place:
9For so was it charged me by the word of the LORD, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou camest.
10So he went another way, and returned not by the way that he came to Bethel.
Who this ‘Man of God was we are not told. His name goes unmentioned. But what better honor to be bestowed upon one than to be called ‘a man of God’ better that name than any name given to one by man upon this earth. This man of God may seem insignificant in that his name is not mentioned but consider: He delivered one of the most significant prophecies in the Old Testament. It foretells of an event that takes place 340 years after the prediction. A fact attested to by two nations. This prophesy showed the knowledge and power of God.
Better to have the name of ‘a man of God ‘than any name that could be given by human lips. Significant indeed.
The Disciples
Act 9:19-20, 23, 24-25
19And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the
disciples which were at Damascus.
20And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
23And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:
24But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill
him.
25Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.
These disciples of no individual acclaim but together they most likely saved Saul who would later be named Paul; the apostle to the gentiles and establisher of the church. Even the great men need help. Sometimes our purpose may be just to hold the rope for those in need. Their names are not mentioned but the significance of their act was recorded by the Holy Spirit of God. Sometimes just holding the rope for someone is enough.
The Little Maid
2Kings 5:1-4, 9-10, 14
1Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and
honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty
man in valour, but he was a leper.
2And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the
land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's wife.
3And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in
Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.
4And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of
Israel.
So Naaman believe the little maid and made journey to see the prophet the little maid spoke of.
9So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.
10And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.
14Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
Ah by the Faith of a little captive maid. Upon her little soul rested the mercy and grace of the LORD that she would tell her captors of the healing power of her LORD. Her name may not be known but her heart was right to extend the mercy and healing power of her LORD. Through her Faith and the sharing of it a prominent Syrian family came to the knowledge of the one true God. Share your Faith.
Anna
There was a man named Simeon who was told by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death till he had seen the LORDS Christ (Luke 2:26). There also was one there as well that is not as well-known and whose name does not come to mind often; is she insignificant in the great scheme of things? You be the judge of her story.
Luke 2:36-38
36And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was
of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;
37And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the
temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
38And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him
to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
Anna the prophetess of great age; a widow “who departed not from the temple, but served God with fasting’s and prayers night and day”. Anna who devoted her life to serving God day and night. Her story is a short one only 4 verses, but not insignificant to God. Anna’s faithful service of those many years was not forgotten by God. For in her duty to serving God she was blessed to see the LORD Jesus the Holy one of Israel. She was to see the blessed Savior of the World. Brothers and sisters let us remember to do well in serving our LORD. While it might not be recognized of man the LORD will know and we too will see the LORD Jesus. Our service will be rewarded in due time as was Anna’s and there is certainly nothing insignificant in serving the Living God.
Nothing Insignificant to God.
Consider this my friends; how God uses the seemingly insignificant of His creation for the most significant of His creation (Mankind) to consider and learn.
Proverbs 6:6-8
6Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
7Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
8Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
Proverbs 30:24-28
24There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:
25The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;
26The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;
27The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;
28The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.
Beloved of Christ the lessons we can learn from Gods creation. ‘The spider is in Kings Palaces’. Remember nothing we do is insignificant. Let us serve God in the mightiest and smallest of ways; whether our path and calling is great or small let us be faithful. Man may not notice or care; but God knows and that is enough.
JESUS SAVES
