Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob,
    little Israel, do not fear,
for I myself will help you,’ declares the Lord,
    your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

I read that the missionary, Hudson Taylor, was introduced in glowing terms at a meeting where he had been invited to speak. When he came to the pulpit, he began by saying, ‘I am the little servant of an illustrious Master.’

He said on another occasion, ‘I often think that God must have been looking for someone small enough and weak enough for Him to use, and that He found me.’

When God addressed His people as ”you worm” He was not being rude. The fact is, they were ”little Israel” in their own eyes – and in reality. But if God Himself helps you, you can do great things, even impossible things in His strength.

We often feel like Gideon and come up with similar excuses:

‘Pardon me, my lord,’ Gideon replied, ‘but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.’ Judges 6:15. But God’s answer was: ‘I will be with you, and you will…’ (Judges 6:16).

 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God – that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.’ 1 Corinthians 1:26-31.