God Uses The Uncommon

You often see how God uses uncommon people or the people who by all outward appearance, low status in society, those who may look rugged, or even just plain weird.

God reminds us through the words of the prophet Samuel.

1 Samuel 16:7
English Standard Version
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

Samuel was being sent to anoint the next King of Israel. Who would end up being a small boy, the youngest of all his brothers, a boy named David.

God in all honesty wants us to be uncommon. To be set apart from the world. A light in the darkness. He calls the uncommon, those of special use.

2 Timothy 2:20-22
New International Version
20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. 21 Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. 22 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

To be those of special use, we must embrace what is uncommon.

We must flee from evil and pursue what God calls as righteous. We must strengthen our faith, love as He loves us, and be at peace for the God of peace sustains us.

Don't be afraid to be UNCOMMON.

Amen.

10 Obscure Bible Characters and Their Stories

https://openthebible.org/article/10-obscure-bible-characters-and-their-stories/

This article shares the stories of some of the more obscure Bible characters.

1. Naaman
2 Kings 5 tells the story of Naaman, a successful Syrian commander who had the disease of leprosy and was desperate for a cure. At the suggestion of a servant girl, Naaman went to see the prophet Elisha. Namaan’s story is one of turning to the Lord, filled with twists and ironies.

2. Jabez
Jabez is only mentioned in a few verses of Scripture and is known for his famous prayer mentioned in 1 Chronicles 4:10:

It is a simple prayer prayed in faith and serves as a powerful example of answered prayer.

Learn more about praying the Prayer of Jabez in 25 Powerful Prayers from the Bible.

3. Josiah
King Josiah started his reign at eight years old and proved to be one of the greatest kings to ever rule God’s people. 2 Kings 22:2 shares his legacy: “he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.”

The key part of his story is found in 2 Kings 22. The high priest found the Book of the Law which had been neglected for years. The high priest gave it to his secretary who read it for King Josiah. King Josiah tore his clothes and pled with the Lord to not punish Israel for their disobedience to His Word. Josiah then read the Book of the Law publicly and made a covenant with the Lord along to obey Him with all of his heart and soul (2 Kings 23:3).

This is truly a marvelous story of repentance, spiritual leadership, and the mercy of God!

4. Mordecai
We find the story of Mordecai in the Book of Esther. Mordecai is the cousin and guardian of Esther, a foreigner who becomes queen of Persia. Mordecai uses his position in the king’s court to stand up for the oppressed people of God and foil a plot to assassinate the king. The Book of Esther plays a pivotal role in the Bible story because if the Jewish people had been destroyed, the story of God’s saving work through the Jewish people (and eventually Christ) would have come to an end.

Oh, what God can do through courageous people who fear Him!

5. The Thief on the Cross
The thief on the cross’s powerful story is told in Luke 23:32-43. He was one of two thieves crucified next to Jesus. (We’ll call this thief the penitent one.) The first criminal mocked Christ, “Save yourself and us!” (23:29). The penitent thief, defended Jesus in a humble manner:

Then he pleaded with Jesus to “remember me when you come into your kingdom.” This desperate and humble cry for mercy is all that God needed to welcome him into the family of God. Jesus answered, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise” (v. 43).

6. Ehud
The story of Ehud, the left-handed judge, is found in Judges 3, and would fit in nicely in the plot of a thriller movie.

Israel was under the oppressive rule of Eglon, the king of Moab, and cried out to the Lord for deliverance. The Moabites worshipped idols and did evil in the sight of the Lord. God sent Ehud and his cubit-long (about a foot and a half) sword to assassinate the king and liberate God’s people from his rule.

Ehud must have been a smooth talker, because when he told the servants of the king that he had a “secret message” for him (Judges 3:19), they left Ehud all alone with the king on a private rooftop. Ehud’s “secret message” was a sword, and the “special delivery” was a fatal stab to the belly of the overweight king! (Read Judges 3:21–22 for a more graphic description.) Then Ehud quietly locked the doors to the roof to keep the guards out and made a quick getaway. Ehud then gathered the people of Israel to return and conquer the Moabites.

7. Korah
Unlike all of the previous obscure biblical characters, Korah’s legacy is not a positive one. Numbers 16 describes his story.

As Israel wandered the wilderness after the Exodus, Korah rallied together a mob of Israelites to oppose Moses’ leadership, questioning the idea that Moses was God’s only spokesperson. God didn’t take too kindly to what is known as “Korah’s Rebellion”, and caused the earth to swallow them up in judgment (Numbers 16:32). Opposing God’s anointed leader is the same as opposing God.

8. Jethro
Jethro was the father-in-law of Moses. In Exodus 18, Moses was overwhelmed with his task to lead Israel. It seemed like everyone who had a problem came to Moses to mediate!

Exodus 18:13-27 describes Jethro’s wise suggestion for Moses. He recommended installing leaders for tens, fifties, hundreds, and thousands to reduce his leadership burden and delegate responsibility to the people of Israel. Jethro said if Moses followed his suggestion, “God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace” (Exodus 18:23). As a good son-in-law, Moses obeyed! This allowed Moses not to be held up with trivial matters but rather enjoy the fruits of a wise system of delegation.

9. Elishama
We do not know a lot about Elishama, who was a scribe/secretary mentioned briefly in Scripture (Jeremiah 36:12). What makes this obscure Bible character of interest is the extra-biblical evidence that we have for him, and in turn, the historical reliability of Scripture.

In 1986 outside of Jerusalem a clay seal was found that says “Elishama, servant of the king,” proving that he was indeed a scribe in the exact time setting and situation that Scripture describes. That is true evidence that all of Scripture is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16–17), even down to the most tiny detail and seemingly insignificant person!

10. Balaam
Balaam the Prophet is perhaps best known as the guy who got called out by a donkey (see Numbers 22). He was sent by Balak, king of Moab, to pronounce curses upon Israel. But God had other ideas. God told Balaam to pronounce blessings upon Israel and not return to Balak. Balaam disobeyed the Lord by returning to the king Balak. Balaam, riding his donkey, is then confronted by an angel of the Lord.

I'm kind of tired of being uncommon

1 Samuel 16:7b - God looks at the heart

uncommon or not? the latter is from the 7th BCE.

(Proverbs 22:17–18): "Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And apply thine heart to my doctrine; For it is pleasant if thou keep them in thy belly, that they may be established together upon thy lips"

(Amenemope, ch. 1): "Give thine ear, and hear what I say, And apply thine heart to apprehend; It is good for thee to place them in thine heart, let them rest in the casket of thy belly; That they may act as a peg upon thy tongue"[50]

this is absolutely true and i don't mean to take anything away from it - -

-- but He also uses great people, powerful men and women, extraordinarily wise, extremely learned, and enormously influential. Deborah, David, Solomon, the queen of Sheba, Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel, Paul, Apollos, Priscilla, Joseph of Aramathea, Constantine, Tertullian, Augustine, so many others.

yet these are few and far between, but influence many. at the same time so many more who are nothing by the standards of the world, have such great impact, that God sees and the world overlooks.


i just want to say,
don't believe that those who are great in the eyes of the world, who are intelligent or wise, powerful or learned, are not also used by God. be extremely grateful for them, because they are few, while you also praise God that so many not like them, are called by Him, regardless of how the world sees them, and that in His eyes they are equally great, if not even greater

Indeed thank you, 😊

I hope you had fun while you were away... did you go somewhere? Or perhaps you thought
to leave us all behind but found yourself missing all the repartee among clanging swords?


You Are Welcome! God Bless You

God used a donkey so I have great potential

Seems to be the case.

Matthew 27:57
When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who himself was a disciple of Jesus.

Yup I surely did, but with no thoughts of leaving anyone behind 😀😃🙂

with Nicodemus! the greatest teacher in all Israel!
who together went to Pilate, who according to Christian traditions from the time, also became a believer!

Look at the greatest servant of all the most uncommon human being to ever walk the earth Jesus Christ a man Philippians 2:7 " but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. He made Himself of no reputation and gave His life giving blood for us and because of His obedience we have eternal life and God has raised Him to His right hand and His name is now the name above all names.

Philippians 2:9-11

I once felt the same way until my uncommoness found common company in the body of Christ. Trying to fit in a triangle while being a hexagon would get tiring.

This is true under the common understanding of what is average in comparison to what is beyond average. God can use all people and will call all people.

I suppose my main point was in verse 21 those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes.

Timothy 2:20-21
New International Version
20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. 21 Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

Instruments of special purposes are those who are not for common use.

Amen. Jesus sets the perfect example of one being set apart for holy use.

But Roughsoul1991 this is the whole point
Roughsoul1991you are not a common vessel to God and please don't try to fit in with other members in the body of Christ because God has given you a unique mission and purpose in His kingdom. Just flow with His Spirit and let Him lead you into the unique destiny He has for you. You will find total fulfillment only when you allow the Spirit to lead you into the call He has for you and a call is on your life. You don't have to try to fit into the Body of Christ and just be a hexagon in a crowd of triangles because we need you as you were created a hexagon.

Remember that Jesus already cleansed us when we became his children and that you don't have to cleanse yourself to be used by him in any special manner. He will use us all in special ways according to His will and definition not ours. Your are a unique vessel called according to His purpose. Just rest and let Him use you for His glory and don't grow weary. Galatians 6:9 " And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. " You will reap from your ministry and God will give you a harvest from all the seeds you have sown for Him.