I think that I have been considered or have considered myself the underdog.
From 11th grade on, I have realized that the best part of being the underdog is knowing that whenever something happens, as much as I want it, if it does turn out good it’s not because I am good, but because God is good. And that my friends, this Thanksgiving, is the stance that I want us to take. I think that God is quite pleased to see many of His disciples as underdogs. The person who doesn't have much going for them. The person who had little going for them but managed to score a point once in a season. And people like me come from a long line right back to the Bible. The Bible is full of underdogs! In fact, most of the people who play key roles in the Bible could be described as underdogs. People who really didn't have much going for them. Childless women. Old men. Youngest sons. Cowards. Stutterers. Daydreamers. Shepherds. Murderers. Slaves. You know, one of the central truths of the entire Bible, is that God loves to use the underdog!
Who would have given Abraham 2 cents for his promise of being the father of a great nation when he was 99 years old and his wife could no longer have children? But Sarah bore the child of laughter according to the promise of God. What odds would we have given Joseph that his dream of leadership would come to pass as he was sold into slavery in Egypt, and spent 14 years forgotten and in prison? But God used Joseph to save Israel's sons from starvation. Who would have foreseen that a group of slaves in Egypt could be led from bondage to freedom by a man so ungifted in leadership, speaking ability, diplomacy, and plain common sense, as Moses? And who would have given that scraggly bunch of slaves much of a chance of even making it to a great Sea, let alone getting across? Such stories do not stop when the Israelites settle in the land.
In fact, on this Thanksgiving Sunday, all of you who are unsure of your abilities who don’t think that you have many talents, whose life is a mess, this sermon is for you…because, you fall in line with Moses and the people of Israel quite well!
Let’s look at Deuteronomy 8. This passage is a warning. Some background. The people of Israel are preparing to enter the Promised Land. They have traveled through the wilderness, and are excited about entering the land described by their leader Moses in verses 7-9 as a good land, a land with flowing streams … a land where you may eat bread without scarcity, where you will lack nothing. They believe that their time of hardship is over, and they are looking forward to a life of prosperity.
I admit that I feel a little envious of the Israelites as they look toward their bright future. But what is interesting is that Moses does not say to them, You’ve suffered long enough. This is the time to eat, drink, and be merry! No, instead, Moses just gives the warning. No more harsh life in the desert, however, there is even more to watch for now! Remember, God had fought for them because they could not fight for themselves. But as they settled in the land they had less and less need for God to fight battles for them. They had wandered homeless in the desert for 40 years and God had taken care of all their needs. But after settling in the land they could build their own houses and raise their own food. The people who had earlier depended on God's cloud and pillar of fire for guidance and God's manna for daily survival now had a military, fortresses, and plenty.
