Scripture references: Judges 9, 1 Samuel 16

If you are the youngest male child in your family, or if you are male with several older brothers, you know what boys in that family position have gone through for all of man's history. Being the baby brother can mean getting a lot of attention; it can also mean getting left out at times. It can put a boy in a position of favor with adults; and it can cause a boy to be envied and resented by his older siblings. Being the youngest boy can have advantages and disadvantages. It can mean being the most favored in mom and dad's eyes, and the least favored in the eyes of the older brothers.

I would like to look at two stories from the Old Testament concerning the youngest brother in a family, and how God raises up the youngest boy to demonstrate His glory. They are the story of Jotham, the youngest son of Gideon. And the story of David, the youngest son of Jesse. In each of these two lives God shows how the ways and wisdom of Man are not His. For God does not care about birth order as man does, but about the heart and spirit of a boy.

The story of Jotham is a sad tale with a just end. One of his older step-brother's, Abimelech, decided that he wanted to be the ruler after Gideons death. So he decided to kill all of his other brothers. The only boy who escaped the mass slaughter was the youngest, Jotham. He was able to hide and save himself. Afterwards, Jotham proclaimed a curse on Abimelech and all those who followed him. In the end, the curse was fulfilled, and Abimelech was killed and his followers suffered. The youngest son triumphed in the end, not because of his own strength, but because of God's justice toward the righteous.

The second story, that of the young shepherd boy who became King of Israel, is well known. Young David was left alone to watch the family's herd of sheep, while all the older boys went off to fight with King Saul. But God was displeased with Saul and sought to anoint a new King. So He sent his prophet, Samuel, to the house of Jesse to seek the new King. And much to his own surprise, as well as the surprise of everyone else, it was not the oldest and best looking of Jesse's son whom God choose, but the youngest son. And it was this youngest son who triumphed over the giant Goliath, and conquered many peoples and lands, and brought greatness to Israel, and glory to God.

Throughout the Bible God teaches us that His ways are not like ours. He does not value the things we find important. The people God chooses to raise up in world to show his greatness and glory are often the youngest, or poorest, or despised of common men. When choosing the followers of Jesus, He choose common fishermen and a publican. When spreading the gospel to all the world, He choose Saul, a persecutor of the church; someone no man would have chosen to be a spokesman for Jesus Christ. And Paul's followers and great leaders of the early Church, like Aquila and Pirscilla, were mostly common men and women. In this way, God makes it clear that it is His power, wisdom and grace which are displayed to the world; therefore no man or nation may boast of their own power and accomplishments. That is the reason God told Gideon to take only three-hundred men into battle against Israel's enemy. So that Israel would not be able to boast of their great victory, but God would receive glory and honor before all men.

So if you are the youngest son or daughter, or the weakest or smallest in your group, or perhaps the poorest and least attractive, remember how God quite often raises up such as these to show forth his mighty power and glory to all the world. By forgetting about what man values and placing your faith in God, you can share in his glory and be blessed far above those whom man considers greater.

May the peace and blessings of God be with you. Amen.