One of the lovely things about God is more often than not He uses unlikely people to take up His cause and often leaves behind those who seem more qualified, evidenced in the way that He used the Hebrew prophets. I have been doing a deep dive into the minor prophets of the Bible and found them all to be a fascinating bunch, with something to say, much of it applicable to our own times.

Part of my reflections on the minor prophets is to relate them to the text “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world, to confound the wise. And God has chosen the weak things of the world, to confound things which are strong” 1 Corinthians 1:27.

Here’s a single sentence for each of the 12, relating to that text:

1. Hosea

God chose a man spurned in love to marry and redeem an unfaithful woman, to show His stubborn love for an unfaithful people.

2. Joel

God chose a voice crying over locusts and ruin to call an entire nation to repentance before the Day of the Lord.

3. Amos

God chose a humble sheep farmer and sycamore tree dresser, with no prophetic credentials, to confront kings and a corrupt nation.

4. Obadiah

God chose a brief word against proud Edom to show that national arrogance will be brought low by a God who sees.

5. Jonah

God chose a reluctant prophet who ran the wrong way to reveal mercy for Israel’s enemies and expose Israel’s hard heart.

6. Micah

God chose a man from a small village to declare judgment on palaces and promise a ruler from Bethlehem.

7. Nahum

God chose a message of comfort to the oppressed to announce the downfall of the world’s most feared empire, Nineveh.

8. Habakkuk

God chose a doubting prophet who wrestled with questions to model faith that waits on God even when nothing makes sense.

9. Zephaniah

God chose a royal descendant to preach judgment on everyone, from king to commoner, and hope for the humble remnant.

10. Haggai

God chose a builder-prophet to stir discouraged exiles to lay one stone at a time for a temple they thought was too small.

11. Zechariah

God chose visions and strange symbols given to a young priest to give hope to a people rebuilding in weakness.

12. Malachi

God chose a final, weary messenger to confront religious apathy and point forward to the day God Himself would come.