The characters – a young, pregnant Jewish girl and her new husband. The setting – a dingy stable. The scene – the smell of animals permeates the air as the Savior of the world is born and placed in a manger. When the prophet Isaiah foretold the coming of the Messiah, no one expected His arrival to be like this. God often uses the unlikely to fulfill His purposes.

But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.

Exodus 9:16

In today’s passage, God used Pharaoh for His plan. When Moses asked for the release of his people, “the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh.” (Exodus 9:12) In doing so, the Lord was able to display His power. Since God is “the same yesterday and today and forever,” (Hebrews 13:8) you can be certain He still uses the unlikely to accomplish His will.

As the curtain falls on 2014, you may be wondering what the new year holds for America. Remember, the Lord is in control and can use even the most implausible circumstances to reveal His glory. Ask God to help you recognize His hand in the future, and pray for your nation and its leaders to turn back to Him.

Recommended Reading: Exodus 12:21-32