Isaiah Chapter 41: Verses 13-15 (NIV)
For I am the Lord your God
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.
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.
“See, I will make you into a threshing sledge,
new and sharp, with many teeth.
You will thresh the mountains and crush them,
and reduce the hills to chaff.
Luke Chapter 12: Verse 32 (NIV)
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.
It was actually one word that caught my attention in the reading from Isaiah today; the word ‘little’. The words spoken by Isaiah were a reminder to Israel that even although the people had strayed, even though compared to other nations, Israel was small, God had promised to use His chosen people and to be their God. It also reminded me of the words Jesus, a seemingly insignificant and unlearned band of men, who later guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit, would turn the world upside down.
I went online to find out whether there was a biblical definition for the word ‘little’ and although I didn’t find one, I did find a seemingly old adage which I had never heard before, but I think is going to become one of my new favourite sayings, – ‘Little is much when God is in it.’ I love that!
It got me thinking of how many times we have seen examples of this in the Bible. – David fighting Goliath, the boy’s offering of five loaves and two fish, the widow’s mite, to name just a few.
Its an reminder to all of us that we might feel we are insignificant, or that we don’t have much to offer, but if we are willing to be a tool in God’s hands, He can take us, however insignificant we feel, or however little we feel we have to offer, and multiply it for His Glory. That way, its obvious that it is God’s hand at work and not ours. We should never therefore feel discouraged about little things. In God’s hands if freely given, they turn into something amazing.
Dear Lord,
I’m grateful that You don’t despise the little things, but take them and bless them and use them for Your Glory. Help me to always remember that little is much when God is in it. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.