I’ve been having a blast this summer preaching through some of my favorite childhood Bible stories.

I started in July with a narrative that is near to my heart about young Samuel who was called by God into ministry as a child and how he was used by God in the selection of leadership for the nation of Israel. He himself was such a powerful leader that “not a word from his mouth fell to the ground.” Wow. I guess that means he was always right on target.

And I enjoyed the dynamics of the selection process of Israel’s first king, as Samuel anointed Saul. Saul was the “tallest and best-looking man in all of Israel” according to the text, and I guess appearance was as important to them at that time as it is for our leaders. We like them to be polished and presentable in 2023. And, although Saul had all those obvious outward physical attributes, and despite the fact that he was from a good family, he was still reluctant to attend his own coronation and was found hiding in “the luggage.”

This Sunday, I tackle with joy the story of David and Goliath, a narrative with a powerful message about the dynamics of power and leveraging one’s challenges with what God has put in your hands.

The overarching message that I am finding in all of those stories from 1 Samuel is that things are not always what they seem at first glance.

In young Samuel, God found an unlikely fresh leader for the people who would be faithful and authentic in heart. One would have thought that the sons of Eli the priest would be the natural heirs to the responsibilities of governance and the spiritual life of the nation. But their hearts were far from God and their lives betrayed a lack of devotion to matters of faith and practice. They were not moral men. Things weren’t what they seemed and God provided another way outside the normal path of succession — not Eli’s sons, but, rather, young Samuel.

In the story of Saul, it is rather obvious that tall, dark, and handsome was one of the selection criteria for the new, first-ever kind of Israel. But, despite his good looks, the interior of Saul soured and his heart led him into pride and disobedience. The handsome and statuesque man God had selected to be the first king got “de-selected” and Samuel had to look for another. Things weren’t as they appeared, and God provided another way — not Saul, but, rather, David.

In David, that trend played out again, and, as Samuel followed God’s direction to select the next king from among the eight sons of Jesse, Samuel was wrongly attracted to Eliab, the eldest son — again, tall, dark, and handsome.

What is it with the leadership beauty pageant? Eliab was not the one.

God told Samuel that “men look on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart.”

Ahh. That is the secret, isn’t it?

Look at the heart.

Except, all we can see of a person is what is on the outside. It’s pretty difficult to see the heart. David, the youngest, the one who was given the dirty, lonely task of taking care of the sheep in the pasture, was the one selected. God saw something in David’s heart to which others were oblivious.

Little David was not what he appeared to be, and God provided a way. Not the oldest son. Instead, pick the youngest, David.

And, finally, in the first test of the young, secretly-anointed king of Israel, David faced off bravely with an awesome and intimidating infantry soldier, Goliath.

Surely, Goliath is the favorite to win the challenge: tall, experienced, physical power, well-equipped with an armored defense.

But things are not always what they seem.

I like what Malcolm Gladwell says about power dynamics as they play out in David’s story: “Giants are not what we think they are. The same qualities that appear to give them strength are often the sources of great weakness (“David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants”).”

Goliath was experienced in infantry exchanges and had heavy armor and weapons of hand-to-hand combat. David was young and nimble and had experience of his own as a slinger, taking care of sheep in the fields, defending them successfully against a lion and a bear.

Goliath wanted to do battle up close (his advantage). David opted for a distant approach as a projectile warrior (his advantage).

Indeed, as we measure the power balance, one form of power diminishes in view of another form. David teaches us the “advantage of disadvantage,” but David had to be willing to break the rules of engagement. And he won.

Things are not always what they seem.

Those stories are really about faith, aren’t they?

It takes faith to name dysfunction in leadership and look for a person of integrity, even if it is a young person. It takes faith to look beyond good looks and stature to discern the heart. It takes faith to not be overwhelmed by an adversary who seems to hold all the power and instead trust that God has placed in your hands all you need.

Yes. Things are not always what they seem, so place your trust in God.

Warren Hoffman is a 43 year veteran of pastoral ministry and considers himself a native of Alpena. He is married to his ministry partner and beloved, Laura Hoffman.