Throughout the Bible, God often employs unexpected instruments to fulfill His divine purposes, demonstrating His sovereignty and wisdom. These instruments, whether people, objects, or circumstances, reveal that God's ways are higher than human understanding and that He can use any means to accomplish His will.

1. Balaam's Donkey

One of the most striking examples of an unexpected instrument is Balaam's donkey. In Numbers 22, Balaam, a pagan prophet, is summoned by Balak, the king of Moab, to curse the Israelites. As Balaam sets out on his journey, God sends an angel to block his path. Balaam's donkey, seeing the angel, refuses to move forward, ultimately speaking to Balaam after being struck three times. The donkey's speech and actions reveal God's intervention and serve as a rebuke to Balaam. This account illustrates that God can use even animals to convey His message and redirect human actions.

2. Rahab the Prostitute

Rahab, a Canaanite prostitute living in Jericho, becomes an unexpected instrument of God in the conquest of the Promised Land. In Joshua 2, she hides the Israelite spies sent by Joshua and acknowledges the power of the God of Israel. Her faith and actions lead to her and her family's salvation when Jericho falls. Rahab's inclusion in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:5) underscores how God can use individuals from unlikely backgrounds to play pivotal roles in His redemptive plan.

3. Gideon's Army

In Judges 7, God reduces Gideon's army from 32,000 to 300 men to defeat the Midianites. This unexpected reduction serves to demonstrate that victory comes from the Lord, not from human strength or numbers. The unconventional strategy of using trumpets, jars, and torches further highlights God's ability to use simple and unexpected means to achieve His purposes.

4. David and Goliath

The account of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17 is a classic example of God using an unexpected instrument—a young shepherd boy with a sling and five smooth stones—to defeat a giant warrior. David's faith in God, rather than conventional weaponry, secures the victory. This account emphasizes that God can empower the seemingly weak and insignificant to overcome formidable challenges.

5. The Widow of Zarephath

In 1 Kings 17, during a severe famine, God sends the prophet Elijah to a widow in Zarephath, a Gentile region. Despite her dire circumstances, the widow provides for Elijah, and God miraculously sustains her household with an unending supply of flour and oil. This account illustrates God's provision through unexpected sources and His care for those who trust in Him.

6. The Jawbone of a Donkey

In Judges 15, Samson uses the jawbone of a donkey as an unconventional weapon to defeat a thousand Philistines. This event highlights God's ability to use ordinary objects to achieve extraordinary feats, demonstrating His power and the deliverance He provides to His people.

7. The Cross

Perhaps the most profound unexpected instrument of God is the cross. In the Roman world, the cross was a symbol of shame and execution. Yet, through the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, God accomplished the redemption of humanity. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:18, "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." The cross, an instrument of death, becomes the means of eternal life and reconciliation with God.

These examples from Scripture reveal that God often chooses unexpected instruments to fulfill His purposes, confounding human wisdom and showcasing His divine power and grace.