"Small Things"

 

“Small Things”

 

Our Men’s Bible Study Fellowship’s journey through the Minor Prophets recently took us to Zechariah. He ministered around 520 BC and told of the rebuilding of the Jewish temple and renewal of worship practices under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua respectively. Today (this is being written in early May) we had a discussion of a phrase in Zechariah 4:10: “Who despises the day of small things?” (Emphasis added.) The conclusion we reached is that there are small things but no insignificant ones in God’s sight. Here are a few biblical examples:

*Shamgar (an otherwise obscure judge of Israel) was empowered by God to use an ox goad (a pointed stick) to deliver His people from Philistine oppression (Judges 3:31).

*About 250 years later God used a stone in David’s sling to kill Goliath and give Israel victory over (who else?) the Philistines (1 Samuel 17:48-50).

*Jesus compared God’s kingdom’s growth to a mustard seed (Matthew 13:32—see the early article “Small Beginnings” for a description of its size).

*Our Lord took a boy’s small lunch and multiplied it to feed a large crowd (John 6:5-13).

*The human tongue is a small part of the body (about 70 grams in weight) but can wreak havoc (James 3:1-12—see “Muscle Talk” for more on its potential impact).

In the words of songwriter Kittie Suffield, “Little is much when God is in it!” So, in answer to God’s question posed to Zechariah (“Who despises the day of small things?”), let it never be said, “We do!”

(I guess this article lives up to its title.)

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan