God uses small things

One thing that impressed me from the message on Sunday was how God used the ability that Jochebed (Moses’ mother) had to make a small ark in which to save the life of her son.  I’m sure she never had a thought while she was learning that skill that one day it would save the life of her son.  We aren’t given any information about how she knew how to make such a thing. Perhaps it was something she was taught by the Egyptians.  Papyrus reeds were plentiful along the Nile so she had a ready supply of those, but the bitumen or asphalt that she used to make it watertight was imported to Egypt from other countries.  We can only speculate how she was able to obtain that.  Perhaps her husband had access to it during some of the work he was doing for the Egyptians in slave labor.

This started a train of thought for me of some of the small things Scripture tells us that God has used.

• Moses lifted up his rod over the Red Sea to save the Israelites and annihilate the Egyptians. Exodus 14:21-33
• Women who were skilled in needlework and spinning contributed to the building of the Tabernacle.  Exodus 35:25-26
• Moses threw a piece of wood into the bitter waters to make them sweet. Exodus 15:35.
• Rahab tied a scarlet cord in the window of her house to save her family when the Israelites conquered Jericho. Joshua 17:21
• Shamgar had an ox goad, something used to prod oxen into action.  He used this to slay 600 Philistines and saved Israel.  One small verse is given to this mighty act.  Judges 3:31
• Gideon felt his family was the weakest in Manasseh and he was the least in his family. Judges 6:15
• God defeated the Midianites with Gideon’s small army of 300 men.  Judges 7
• Samson killed 1000 Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey.  Judges 15:15-16
• David killed Goliath with a sling and one smooth stone.  1 Samuel 17

In the New Testament God used a boy’s lunch to feed 5000, Dorcas used her ability with a needle to bless people, Jesus commended the widow for giving her last pennies.  Jesus said if we have faith the size of a mustard seed, great things can be done.  We are blessed if we give a cup of cold water in the name of Jesus to bless someone.

When we think about the people God chose to establish his church, we see that he did not choose many wise, might or noble men after the flesh. 1 Cor. 1:26.  He chose fishermen, a zealot and a tax collector among others.  He chose Paul after he had participated in the murder of Stephen.  Zech. 4:10 says “Do not despise small beginnings.”  NLT.

I think Jochabed’s passion for her son’s life, should inspire us to have the same kind of passion for God’s house and the little things he has called us to do. “Little is much when God is in it.”

Naomi Brinkman