Throughout the biblical narrative, God consistently chooses to work through individuals who are humble and seemingly unlikely candidates for His divine purposes. This theme underscores the principle that God's power is made perfect in weakness and that He often selects those whom the world might overlook to accomplish His will.

Old Testament Examples

1. Moses: Despite being raised in Pharaoh's palace, Moses fled to the desert after killing an Egyptian. When God called him from the burning bush to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, Moses protested, citing his lack of eloquence and questioning, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" (Exodus 3:11). Yet, God empowered Moses to confront Pharaoh and lead His people to freedom.

2. Gideon: In the Book of Judges, Gideon is introduced as a man threshing wheat in a winepress to hide from the Midianites. When the angel of the Lord appeared to him, Gideon questioned his own significance, saying, "My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s house" (Judges 6:15). Despite his doubts, God used Gideon to deliver Israel from Midianite oppression with a small army, emphasizing that victory comes from the Lord.

3. David: The youngest son of Jesse, David was a shepherd boy when the prophet Samuel anointed him as king. His own father did not initially consider him for kingship, yet God saw David's heart. As God told Samuel, "The LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). David's humble beginnings did not prevent him from becoming Israel's greatest king.

New Testament Examples

1. Mary, the Mother of Jesus: Mary was a young, unmarried woman from Nazareth, a town of little renown. When the angel Gabriel announced that she would bear the Son of God, Mary humbly accepted, saying, "I am the Lord’s servant. May it happen to me according to your word" (Luke 1:38). Her faith and obedience made her a central figure in God's redemptive plan.

2. The Disciples: Jesus chose His disciples from among fishermen, tax collectors, and other ordinary individuals. These men were not scholars or religious leaders, yet Jesus entrusted them with spreading the Gospel. In Acts 4:13, the religious leaders were astonished by the boldness of Peter and John, recognizing "that they were unschooled, ordinary men" , yet they had been with Jesus.

3. Paul: Formerly Saul, a zealous persecutor of Christians, Paul became one of the most influential apostles after his dramatic conversion. He acknowledged his past and his weaknesses, writing, "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:10). Paul's life exemplifies how God can transform and use even those who seem most unlikely.

Theological Implications

The consistent biblical theme of God using the humble and unlikely serves to highlight His sovereignty and grace. It demonstrates that God's criteria for service are not based on human standards of power, wisdom, or status. Instead, God values faith, obedience, and a heart willing to serve. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:27-29, "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him" .

This divine preference for the humble and unlikely assures believers that God can use anyone for His purposes, regardless of their background or perceived limitations. It is a reminder that God's strength is made perfect in weakness, and His glory is revealed through those who trust in Him.