God Uses the Unexpected
- Feb 5
- 2 min read
Rev. Enoch Thompson | February 5 2026 | Acts 23:16-22
KEY VERSE: “But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, he went into the barracks and told Paul.” (Acts 23:16, NIV)
MESSAGE:
The God of the Bible is a God of deliverance—past, present, and future. His interventions come in ways He sovereignly chooses, often through unexpected channels.
Paul faced a deadly plot: more than forty men conspired to kill him. Yet God did not send an angel or a ruler; He used Paul’s young nephew, who overheard the plan and courageously reported it. That simple act set in motion Paul’s deliverance.
God delights in using the overlooked and ordinary to accomplish His will. Just as He used David to defeat Goliath and Esther to save her people, He used Paul’s nephew to protect His servant. None of us is too small or insignificant to be used by God. His creativity in deliverance reminds us to trust Him, even when His methods surprise us.
FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:
Walk expectantly, trusting God to use anyone, even the least likely, to fulfil His purposes. Step forward courageously when God places you in a position to act.
PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for using unexpected people and means to accomplish Your will. Help me to trust Your creativity in my deliverance and to walk expectantly, knowing You can use anyone to fulfil Your purposes. Remind me that no one is insignificant in Your kingdom, and give me courage to encourage others in their calling. For Your dear Name’s sake, Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!
The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING
DAILY word study: HEARD The word translated “heard” comes from ἀκούω (akouō), which means to hear, to listen attentively, to receive a message, and in many Bible contexts, to hear in a way that leads to response or obedience. In Acts 23:16, the form used points to a real event: Paul’s nephew heard about the ambush.
He did not only pick up sounds. He grasped the meaning and the danger, then took action. His “hearing” became a doorway for God’s protection. In this passage, akouō shows that God can use alert ears and a willing heart to stop harm and advance His plan.
Reflect on this:
Ask God for a listening heart. When He allows you to hear something important, it may be an invitation to speak wisely, act promptly, and help protect someone.
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