Eyes to See the Unexpected

A quote by A.B. Simpson, focusing on how often God works through the unexpected, brought some of the following Biblical examples to mind…

When the disciples were faced with the need of feeding thousands of people who were hungry, they took inventory of their circumstances and concluded they were in an impossible situation. In their thinking, there were too many empty stomachs for the amount of food on hand. Their solution was a pragmatic one, “send them all away and let them find their own food.”

When Jesus told them to feed the crowd they quickly replied, “With what?” “What’s available?” Jesus asked them. Through their eyes they could only see a tiny snack made up of a few fish and a couple of loaves of bread, but through Jesus’ eyes, He could see a feast in the making. Jesus took something that was right in front of their eyes and did the unexpected. By blessing the fish and breaking the bread He multiplied what was available and used it to feed a multitude.

The book of Second Kings tells the account of a widow who was in a desperate situation. She had no money and faced losing her two sons, who were about to be taken as slaves by a creditor. When the prophet Elisha asked her what she had of value in the house the widow said, “Nothing really, just a small jar of oil.” Through her eyes the oil didn’t amount to much, but through Elisha’s eyes the oil amounted to a treasure chest of wealth. The widow never expected God to use her little jar of oil to bring about her deliverance as she obediently poured it from vessel to vessel.

When Moses asked God how he could convince the elders of Israel that the Lord had sent him and appeared to him, God answered Moses by saying, “What is in your hand?” Moses answered, “A rod.” Surely, Moses must have thought, “What’s so special about this old piece of wood. I’ve used it in my shepherding work for years. How can this lifeless thing convince anybody that God has sent me to lead His people out of Egypt?” Moses was not expecting God’s answer. Moses didn’t think he held anything in his hand that God would use to reveal His glory and power in delivering a nation.

Are you facing something that looks impossible? Do you need to see God move in a mighty way? Don’t be surprised if His answer comes in a way that is unexpected and that He uses something that is already in your hand, or right under your nose.

Here is the quote by A.B. Simpson …

But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. Luke 24:16
And their eyes were opened and they recognized Him. Luke 24:31

There is much precious significance in this. The Lord is often present in our lives in things that we do not dream possess any significance. We are asking God about something which needs His mighty working, and the very instrument by which He is to work is by our side, perhaps for weeks and months and years all unrecognized, until suddenly someday it grows luminous and glorious with the very presence of the Lord, and becomes the mighty instrument of His hand through the unexpected. Often He keeps us from seeing His way until just before He opens it, and then, immediately that it is unfolded, we find that He was walking by our side in the very thing, long before we even suspected its meaning.