In Spite of Ourselves

It was that time again. 

She taped the paper to the door and made a dash for the car. She wanted to be far away when the students noticed the cast posting for the musical. 

It happened every year. The music teacher at our small school auditioned all who were interested in participating. To put on a full musical took work and effort. The students were always enthusiastic, but not always overflowing with talent. With her decisions made, she’d post the list for all to see. 

Each year it was the same. Kids gathered around to see what parts were awarded. Some were excited and some disappointed, but always there were questions when they saw the name of a student with a lead role who no one thought possessed any ability to carry it off. Why did she select that person? was not only on their minds but part of their conversation.

Each year the outcome was also the same. When the time came for the musical to be performed, the person thought to be the wrong choice surprised everyone by having an amazing voice, presence, or both. The music teacher had a gift. She could see potential in people that others could not. And in 20 years I never knew her to make a mistake.

How like God is that? God sees what we do not. He calls on people we think are completely unsuited for the job. And yet when He does, He equips that person to do what no one thought they could. Prophets often fell into this category. Moses struggled with confidence and speaking. Jeremiah was just a child; Amos, a shepherd. Jonah carried a boatload of prejudice and anger. Elijah got overwhelmed and depressed. Ellen White, with sickness and limited formal education, struggled to write. 

Yet Moses took the Israelites out of Egypt against Pharaoh. Jeremiah persistently wrote appeal after appeal warning Jerusalem against attack. In spite of his status, Amos persevered. Jonah saved a city, although not without personal trial. Elijah eventually heard the still small voice. Ellen White was strengthened by God and wrote prolifically.   

God chooses ordinary people in spite of their flaws and deficiencies.

Calling the Ordinary

God equips whom He calls. He chooses ordinary people in spite of their flaws and deficiencies. We need look only at a list of Bible prophets to know this. What was common to all of them was that each was willing to answer and follow His direction (Jonah being one exception). They were able to accomplish great things for God by following His instruction and for His purpose.

There’s a well-known story about the 1980 United States men’s Olympic hockey team. So famous, in fact, that it was made into the movie Miracle. Herb Brooks, the coach of the United States team, wanted to do something no American team had done. He wanted a team that would beat the Russians, who had won repeatedly year after year. In other words, Brooks wanted the best hockey team in the world.

To accomplish this, one might think a coach would select the best players the sport had to offer—those with the most experience, the most goals, and the best defense. But instead Brooks chose ordinary college-age hockey players. None were stars. None were the best in the sport. Many doubted the team would ever get past the first round, let alone knock out the Russian team. Brooks was undeterred. And what was thought impossible happened. They not only won against the Russian team; they went on to win the gold medal. For many it was a miracle.

But isn’t that also the way God works? He selects the unexpected individual, the person everyone (often including the one called) thinks can’t get it done, but it happens. Not because the person brought much to the table, but because God made up what the individual lacked. It’s a miracle because everyone recognizes God has to be involved. David goes up against Goliath and, against all odds, wins. Moses goes against Pharaoh. God wins. Peter puts down an empty net, knowing there were no fish—but needed help to get the net back in the boat. It’s a miracle.

Called Alone, but Not Alone

To be called by God isn’t easy, and it’s often a lonely path. Prophets knew much about this, but God rarely left them without support. Moses had Aaron. Jeremiah had Baruch. Elijah had Elisha. Ellen had her husband, James, and trusted, capable literary assistants.

In each case, while the prophet had to deliver the difficult messages, they had someone to lean on, to share their load and even their grief. When Israel confronted Moses, indirectly criticizing God, it was Moses and Aaron who fell to their faces on the ground before God. When Jeremiah saw his scroll torn and thrown into the fire, it was Baruch who rewrote the message. When Elijah told Elisha not to follow where he was going, Elisha stuck closer than ever to receive a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. James helped to edit and publish his wife Ellen’s visions.

It isn’t always our talent that God requires, but creative ideas to deliver what can lead to difficult conversations.

But it doesn’t take away from the fact that a prophet faced times alone, often under duress, in challenging circumstances, struggling with how to write and send difficult messages as well as people challenging who they were and whether they, in fact, represented God or just themselves.

Jeremiah Lanphier was a 48-year-old businessman in New York City in 1857. Feeling a need to evangelize the city and seek those who were lost, Lanphier decided to start a businessmen’s prayer meeting for one hour starting at noon in a small church in New York City. He posted and passed out flyers all over town. He encouraged people to come for as long as they were able. 

The day arrived, and he prepared himself to welcome the other businessmen. No one showed up. Everything—God’s impressions, the call, the idea—all seemed like a failure. Yet in four months a revival took over New York City. One man followed what God had laid on his heart. God equips those who answer Him in faith.

What About Us?

So how does one take a Sabbath School lesson on prophetic writing and make it applicable to our own lives? After all, most of us have not been and never will be called to be a prophet or to write messages of truth to others. How does their life and experience relate to us?

I suppose we could just stop here. We could say, “It’s all interesting, but I’m not called to be a prophet.” But there are things we can do that are very much part of a prophet’s life. Let’s look at a few lessons.

First, remember that God calls the ordinary to do extraordinary things. Last I checked, we’re all mostly ordinary. The question is: What do you do that can be shared with someone else that is a witness for Jesus? What does God see in you that He can use, and He’s simply waiting for you to answer His call?

I’ll give an example. While I worked for more than 20 years in the Adventist Review office, it was not as a writer. I learned from the editors whom I worked alongside. I could put a noun and verb together to make a cohesive sentence, but a writer? Never crossed my mind, even though occasionally the editors would ask me to write an article. With their polish the article could shine.

Around the time of COVID I became restless about my service for the Lord. My daughter and I decided to create a devotional project—I’d write, and she’d design. It was a bit of an audacious thing to decide. While she was a professional designer, I was not inclined to call myself a writer. Three years later three published books carried my name as the author—150 devotionals written by me reflecting on stories from Genesis to Revelation. God called. We answered. And to be honest, a miracle occurred.

My mom was in her late 80s, living on her own, confined to a wheelchair. Her circumstances frustrated her since she was dependent on others to take her anywhere. But she recognized that she could send cards. And send she did! She wrote to homebound members. She put cards outside the doors of her apartment neighbors. When she moved to an assisted living facility, she continued with cards to caregivers and residents. After she died, I found stacks of cards, envelopes, and stamps waiting for the next delivery. More people than I could count told us stories about how that one card brightened their day and lifted their spirts. Maybe you can’t write like a prophet, but you can send a card.

Need support? God provided for His prophets; He’ll do the same for us. In my case, my daughter stepped up as my encourager and sounding board. Paul, supported by Silas, brought a jailer and his family to baptism, and witnessed to an entire prison simply by singing. We have no idea if Paul could even carry a tune, yet music made a difference and brought people to Christ. God will not leave you alone in your work for Him.

Gideon with his army of 300 routed the enemy in God’s name. I recently worshipped in a church with less than 25 members. They are trying different ways to impact their small town without much success. It’s not easy. But they have found a unique witness through a quilting circle, with two townspeople now attending.

Marek Micyk is a youth pastor in Poland. He developed an unusual street outreach in a secular city. He set up a real wooden coffin on a public street and offered people the chance to lay inside it with the lid on if they so wanted. Now, that’s an interesting outreach! But it’s been effective, prompting conversations about mortality and the hope in the resurrection. God may call us to think creatively in order to reach others. It isn’t always our talent that God requires, but creative ideas to deliver what can lead to difficult conversations. 

God chooses ordinary people. It’s possible that one day people will look at something God accomplished through us and ask: “Why did He choose that person?” As did the music teacher, God saw something in us that others didn’t see. And because we were willing to be used by Him, He accomplished extraordinary things.