The Unexpected People God Used in Fulfilling His Great Promise
An unexpected advent story
God promised the nation of Israel—His Chosen people—a magnificent gift. For thousands of years, Israel waited for the fulfillment of this promise. But when this promised gift came, it caught Israel by surprise.
We all react to surprises in different ways. Some of us hate surprises because they disrupt our plans or scare us. Others love the opportunity and wonder surprises bring.
We would expect the Jewish religious leaders to be most aware and prepared for their promised Messiah. Sadly, they were not. The Messiah and Savior of the world came in an unexpected way (Luke 19:41-44) and did not measure up to their expectations (John 11:47-50).
Thankfully, many others embraced God’s gracious gift of love when He sent His Son as a newborn into a family of no great importance.
This is God’s way. He delights in people who are not full of themselves or their own self-importance. God chose humble people to receive the Lord, who came in humble circumstances and lived in humility.
God used an unexpected cast of characters in the epic story of the advent of the Lord Jesus. The story we call Christmas.
Unexpected people
Joseph and Mary were the parents God chose for His Son. They were not important people in Israel, but played an essential part in God’s story. Both of them were descendants of King David and Abraham the patriarch (Matt 1:1-16; Luke 3:23-38). Their stories are told in more detail in the first two chapters of the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.
Even before Jesus was born, God chose another couple to help pave the way for the Messiah’s arrival. We read about Zechariah and Elizabeth, who miraculously have a son in their old age. He would become the prophet announcing the advent (coming) of Israel’s Messiah. Their story is told in the first chapter of Luke.
Their son’s role in announcing the Messiah’s arrival came 30 years later. You can find John’s story at the beginning of all four Gospels.
There are a few other people who humbly played their parts in God’s story of the advent of Jesus.
A group of unnamed shepherds also played a role in the announcement and acknowledgment of the birth of Israel’s Messiah. Shepherds were not just humble people, but what we might consider as unsavory characters. They were vagabonds by trade, likely didn’t smell very good, were uneducated, and perhaps of questionable character.
And yet, God sent an angelic chorus to announce the birth of His Son to these unnamed and seemingly unimportant shepherds. They were beyond surprised. They shook with fear at first. But they embraced this wonderful surprise and went to see it for themselves (Luke 2:8-20).
Not long after His birth, Joseph and Mary presented their firstborn son at the temple in Jerusalem according to the Law of Moses. Here we find Simeon and Anna.
Simeon spoke a prophetic word over the infant Jesus and to His mother. The prophetess Anna also spoke over Jesus and shared of His birth and the purpose for His life to others there. We find their story in Luke 2:21-38.
God even used three wise men from a far country (non-Israelites) to pay homage to this child who became the King of all kings. They saw the sign of His star in the heavens and traveled to Jerusalem to worship Him over a year after His birth.
Although tragedy would follow their visit, their spiritual awareness and obedience to a dream from God shows their humility. We find their story in Matt 2:1-12.
Christmas and us now
God still works through humble, ordinary people. He continues to include them in the sharing of His story of redemption. A story that began in an unexpected way with an unexpected cast of characters.
Are you open and willing to play a part in God’s continuing story of redemption?
How? Simply humble yourself in prayer with an open heart. Worship the Lord from your heart. Then take some time this Christmas season to read the Christmas story—the advent of God’s Son—the Messiah and Savior of the world.
Be encouraged by how God used humble and seemingly unimportant people to play their parts in His story of redemption. Merry Christmas to y’all!
