God Likes to Redeem

God likes to redeem. He takes situations we’re ashamed of and brings His glory. When we hang our head and have no hope of things getting better, God has another plan.


In the Old Testament , women who were fruitful bore children, and women who were barren were unable to conceive. For a woman to be barren was a shame. Yet God chose barren women to bare some important men of faith. Sarah was unable to conceive until her old age, when God “did for Sarah what He had promised” and she became pregnant with Isaac (Gen 21:1-3). Rachael was unable to conceive until God opened her womb (Gen 30:22) and she bore Joseph and Benjamin. In similar manner the Lord “remembered” Hannah, and she bore Samuel (1 Sam 1:19-20). And in the New Testament we read that Elizabeth was barren into her old age, when the Lord chose her to bear John the Baptist (Luk 1:5-25). God redeemed the hopelessness of these barren women and gave them children.

God chooses unlikely people for His works . . . men and women whom others would not hold in high esteem. Gideon was such a man, hiding wheat from his enemies so that his own family could eat. The Lord sent an angel to Gideon, who called him a “mighty warrior.”(Jud 6:12). Though Gideon saw himself as the weakest of the weak, God chose him to deliver Israel from their enemies. The Lord not only redeemed Gideon’s life, but the whole nation benefited from conquering their enemies.

God’s plans are big. When we receive His promise, it is not just for ourselves. He waters the barren landscape of our lives so that we can be fruitful and produce saviors. With His provision, our works will glorify God.

"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up: do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. The wild animals honor Me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to My people, My chosen, the people I formed for Myself that they may proclaim My praise.” (Is 43:19-21)."

God knows that the desert wasteland is a discouraging place for His people. Left to ourselves, we become wild, having lost sight of His purposes for our lives. But He will bring His streams into our dry experience, that we might be fruitful in praise. Let us remember that God created us for Himself, and He will not forget all His promises to us. In the appointed time He will redeem our situation, fulfilling His promises and causing us to bear his fruit. He will raise up saviors amongst us (Ob 1:21) for the benefit of His people.

Would it be unusual for God to choose you? Do you seem unqualified in your own eyes? It may be a new thing for you to serve Him in the capacity to which you were called, but take comfort. It is not a new thing for God, our Redeemer.