We purchased this Hoover vacuum over 25 years back, when just about all our floors had carpeting. So it got a lot of use, with only a few minor repairs. One of those occurred last week, when the rubber drive belt connecting the shaft to the roller shredded itself. Wearing an N95 COVID mask, I picked up a new belt at a local store, and utterly failed to get the new one on. Before, I’d slide out the roller, put the belt on it, then use a screwdriver to pull the belt onto the shaft. Well, either the rubber is more stiff than before, or my hand strength isn’t quite what it was. Please assume the former. 😉
Since normal didn’t work I finally went backward. I started with the belt on the drive shaft and on the loose roller, then pulled the roller back with both hands and slid it into the slot. Success!
Then it hit me, what a fine metaphor for how God works with us. We expect the expected, the normal, but sometimes we need to try something new. Maybe backward. A new method better suited to changing situations. Think about the apostle Paul, about the most Jewish guy you could create. Educated. A Pharisee. Connected to the power structure. An ideal guy to reach the Jewish people with the message of Jesus.
God did the unexpected…taking this ideal Jew to reach those not Jewish—the Gentiles. Paul minimized his skill here, but not his ministry, “Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8). How odd of God to use a Jew to reach non-Jews. And the ministry of Peter, the first to tell Gentiles about Jesus, was to the Jews. Go figure.
God did the same with me. My oral reports in school were so bad my mom and academic counselor made me take a speech course. On the first day the teacher said anyone could get out of speech by joining the debate team. Well, I like arguing and hated speaking, and thought we’d have arguments in class. Had no clue about tournaments. I ended up speaking 20 times as much as the class would have required, then Pepperdine offered me a needed scholarship…but in debate. Even more.
And the bulk of my professional career? Speaking as a pastor or teacher. Go figure.
Why does God work in these unexpected and undesired manners? Maybe so we realize it’s not our power or desires nor skill that work in the kingdom economy. It keeps us humble. It keeps us relying on God. So odd of God to use our weaknesses.
Kick Starting the Application
Have you sensed a tug of God to try something outside your comfort zone? Maybe something you’ve never done? Maybe requiring skills you don’t have? What keeps you from saying yes? Do you think if God calls you he can equip you? If you don’t now feel that nudge, are you willing to open yourself to God?