The story of the cockroach, for those who could not read between the lines...
II
The moment a cockroach appears, most of us react the same way. We instinctively reach for a slipper, a broom, or an insect spray. We want it gone. It is unwelcome, irritating, and seemingly good for nothing except contaminating what is clean.
But pause for a moment.
Who created the cockroach?
The answer is simple: God did.
It may not be beautiful like a butterfly or majestic like an eagle, yet it is still part of God's creation. If every creature has a place in His created order, can any one of them be considered too insignificant for Him to use?
The Bible suggests otherwise. When Balaam refused to listen, God spoke through a donkey (Numbers 22:28–30). Solomon sent the lazy man to learn from an ant (Proverbs 6:6). Job declared that even the beasts, birds, and creatures of the earth can teach us about God (Job 12:7–10). Jesus drew some of His greatest lessons from birds, lilies, seeds, fish, and vineyards.
God has always used ordinary things to reveal extraordinary truths.
Then came Egypt.
The greatest empire of its day stood proud, powerful, and untouchable. Pharaoh possessed armies, wealth, chariots, and absolute authority. Yet when God determined that it was time to deliver His people, He did not begin with military force.
He sent frogs. Then gnats. Then flies. Then locusts.
No general would have chosen such a strategy. No king would have feared such enemies. Yet, in the hands of God, these tiny, swarming creatures became instruments that dismantled the pride of an empire and prepared the way for Israel's deliverance. Their power was not in themselves, but in the sovereign God who directed them.
Perhaps that is the deeper lesson.
God is never limited by the size, strength, beauty, or reputation of His instruments. He simply chooses what serves His purpose.
And that brings us back to the cockroach.
It may never become one of the plagues of Egypt. It may never speak like Balaam's donkey. But if God could use creatures that people despised to humble Pharaoh, break the grip of an oppressive realm, and set a captive nation free, who are we to decide what He can or cannot use?
The next time a cockroach scurries across your floor, you will probably still reach for the slipper.
But before you do, let one unsettling thought cross your mind:
What if the greatest obstacle standing before us today—whether an arrogant system, an immovable regime, or a hostile force—is just another Pharaoh, confident in its own absolute authority? And what if the very thing we consider too small, too ordinary, or too despised is the precise instrument God is directing to bring about deliverance?
Because when God's time comes to liberate His people, He doesn't always send what we expect. Sometimes He sends what we almost failed to notice—and what no empire could ever control.
A call to pray for our times
This leaves us with a quiet challenge for the days we live in.
When we look out at the turmoil of our age, it is easy to become fixed on the noise, the threats, and the towering powers that seem to control the narrative. We are tempted to react either in helpless panic or human anger.
Instead, we are called to pray—not as helpless observers, but as people who know who holds the reign of history.
Pray for our times with discernment. Ask the Lord of creation to move behind the scenes of human chaos, to dismantle pride, to shield the innocent, and to bring about true freedom in ways no human mind could engineer.
Most of all, keep your eyes focused on the center. The center is not the Pharaoh on his throne, nor the swarms in the field, nor the rising storms of our day. The center is—and always will be—the sovereign God who directs all things according to His purpose. Empires rise and fall, but the God who commands even the smallest creatures remains firmly on His throne.
Keep trusting and praying...
Story I (OV)
But pause for a moment.
Who created the cockroach?
The answer is simple: God did.
It may not be beautiful like a butterfly or majestic like an eagle, yet it is still part of God's creation. If every creature has a place in His created order, can any one of them be considered too insignificant for Him to use?
The Bible suggests otherwise.
When Balaam refused to listen, God spoke through a donkey (Numbers 22:28–30). Solomon sent the lazy man to learn from an ant (Proverbs 6:6). Job declared that even the beasts, birds, and creatures of the earth can teach us about God (Job 12:7–10). Jesus drew some of His greatest lessons from birds, lilies, seeds, fish, and vineyards.
God has always used ordinary things to reveal extraordinary truths.
Then came Egypt.
The greatest empire of its day stood proud, powerful, and untouchable. Pharaoh possessed armies, wealth, chariots, and absolute authority. Yet when God determined that it was time to deliver His people, He did not begin with military force.
He sent frogs.
Then gnats.
Then flies.
Then locusts.
No general would have chosen such a strategy. No king would have feared such enemies. Yet, in the hands of God, these tiny creatures became instruments that dismantled the pride of an empire and prepared the way for Israel's deliverance. Their power was not in themselves, but in the God who sent them.
Perhaps that is the lesson.
God is never limited by the size, strength, beauty, or reputation of His instruments. He simply chooses what serves His purpose.
And that brings us back to the cockroach.
It may never become one of the plagues of Egypt. It may never speak like Balaam's donkey. But if God could use creatures that people despised to humble Pharaoh and change the course of history, who are we to decide what He can or cannot use?
The next time a cockroach scurries across your floor, you will probably still reach for the slipper.
But before you do, let one unsettling thought cross your mind:
What if the greatest obstacle standing before you today is like Pharaoh—confident, immovable, and seemingly impossible? What if the very thing you consider too small, too ordinary, or too insignificant is the instrument God has already chosen to bring it down?
Because when God's time comes, He doesn't always send what we expect. Sometimes He sends what we almost failed to notice.
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6 comments:
thank you Philipose uncle for another post to read!
Dear Philipose,
Thank you for sharing this beautifully written and deeply thought-provoking reflection.
Your reminder that God often chooses the small, the ordinary, and the overlooked to accomplish His extraordinary purposes is a powerful lesson in humility, faith, and hope.
The closing thought was especially striking. It challenges us to reconsider our assumptions about what God can use and encourages us not to dismiss the seemingly insignificant, whether it is a creature, a circumstance, or even a person.
In the light of what is happening in our country today—especially the heartbreaking incidents involving our youth and children, and the disturbing visuals that confront us daily on social media—your message feels even more timely. It reminds us that while evil, violence, and despair may appear overwhelming, God is neither absent nor powerless. He can work through the most unexpected people and the smallest beginnings to bring about change, justice, and hope. That truth is both comforting and deeply challenging.
Thank you once again for this inspiring meditation. It has given me much to reflect upon, and I sincerely appreciate the wisdom, biblical insight, and sensitivity with which you have presented these timeless truths.
In His firm grip,
Paul
Well written. Very much appealing to the present scenario in our country. Yes, God can use any insignificant things to achieve His purpose.
May the Lord continue to use you for His higher purposes.
M G Daniel, IEM, New Delhi.
Thank you, Appreciate you for reading and pausing to comment !
Thank you my dear friend,
Thank you MG for reading and encouraging. Stay blessed.
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