For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. – Isaiah 9:4

Today's Scripture Reading (May 6, 2026): Isaiah 9

Muhammad Ali once commented that "It isn't the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it's the pebble in your shoe" (Isaiah 9:4). It is the small things that shape our lives. The insignificant things.

Specifically, Isaiah talks about the days of Midian, and the tale of the defeat of the Midianites is the story of Gideon. Gideon was an insignificant farmer who had an unexpected meeting with an Angel, and the Angel, somewhat sarcastically, calls him a mighty Warrior. The irony was not lost on Gideon, but he answered the call anyway. He built an army that God called too big; Gideon cut his army down twice at God's command until he had only 300 soldiers to go up against the strong Midianites, who deserved to be called "Mighty." And even these 300 were not the best and brightest. They were the insignificant. And yet, with God, they won the war anyway.

One of the most famous conversations Jesus had with the crowds who followed him begins with some of the strangest words we have ever heard. You know the words.

Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3-10).

It is almost like God is screaming out, "Blessed are the insignificant." And yet we seem to work so hard not to be insignificant, even though God says that that is when we are blessed.

Every December, the people where I live are entertained by a meteor shower. The meteor shower is called the Geminids. They are called the Geminids because they appear to come flying out of the constellation Gemini. But that is not where they come from. The meteor shower that we see every December is from an Asteroid named 3200 Phaethon [FAY-e-thon]. 3200 Phaethon is an Asteroid that circles the sun. At its closest approach to the sun, it passes halfway between Mercury and the Sun. At its farthest point from the sun, it is on the other side of Mars. So, 3200 Phaethon crosses the orbital path of all four of the inner planets and does so regularly – thus the meteor shower that we see every December. 3200 Phaethon has a diameter of 5 km (3 miles). To put that in perspective, the Earth's average diameter is over 12,700 km. The mean diameter of our moon is 3500 km. The diameter of the object that gives us one of the two great meteor showers every year is 5 km. In a galaxy as large as ours, 5 km is insignificant.

But throughout history, God has worked through the insignificant, just as he did with Gideon. And that means that he can do wonders through you and me.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Isaiah 10