Yahweh said to him, “Who made the human mouth? Who makes him mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, Yahweh? Now go! I will help you speak and I will teach you what to say” (Exod. 4:10-12 hcsb).
Samuel was called to anoint the new king of Israel, knowing it would be one of Jesse’s sons. However, even this godly judge of Israel forgot that God qualifies those He calls. Samuel was looking for certain outward indicators of who this next king would be, but God shows us through the calling of David that a certain age, appearance, or pecking order is not God’s criteria for leadership:
“In peace,” he replied, “I’ve come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and said, “Certainly the Lord’s anointed one is here before Him.”
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature, because I have rejected him. Man does not see what the Lord sees, for man sees what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.”
Jesse called Abinadab and presented him to Samuel. “The Lord hasn’t chosen this one either,” Samuel said. Then Jesse presented Shammah, but Samuel said, “The Lord hasn’t chosen this one either.” After Jesse presented seven of his sons to him, Samuel told Jesse, “The Lord hasn’t chosen any of these.” Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?”
“There is still the youngest,” he answered, “but right now he’s tending the sheep.” Samuel told Jesse, “Send for him. We won’t sit down to eat until he gets here.” So Jesse sent for him. He had beautiful eyes and a healthy, handsome appearance.
Then the Lord said, “Anoint him, for he is the one.” So Samuel took the horn of oil, anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the Lord took control of David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah” (1 Sam. 16:5-13 hcsb).
The testimony of God calling the ordinary and unexpected continues in the New Testament. Jesus’ calling of the first disciples is a wonderful example of God choosing the ordinary, uneducated and common to engage in a work that is extraordinary, brilliant and supernatural. The apostle Paul reminds the Corinthian church to consider their calling. They were not wise. They lacked power and influence and a good pedigree (1 Cor. 1:26-31). Yet, He chose them to be His ambassadors to carry the most important message in the world.
Third, leadership is a gift of the Holy Spirit.
The Old Testament bears the story of how God called and anointed a specific group of people for specific functions. Prophets, priests and kings each fulfilled distinct roles and responsibilities in the leading of God’s people.
