As we open our Bibles, the word little should encourage us. It should become to us a word associated with victory rather than defeat.
A LITTLE MAID (2 KINGS 5)
A little maid, far away in captive circumstances, knew more about “a man of God” and the power of God than was known by the king of Israel. Her simple testimony brought her leprous master to be healed and become a worshipper of God!
When we find ourselves a captive to circumstances and seemingly far from any place of usefulness, may we direct some “leprous Naaman” to a place of cleansing and salvation.
We may wonder to what place of honor and blessing this captive maiden may have been exalted as her happy and healed master returned.
A LITTLE OIL (1 KINGS 17)
As a refugee from Jezebel, Elijah had left the failing waters of Cherith and the raven’s daily supply. At God’s direction, he found himself a boarder with a widow and her son. Her earthly known resources were but a little oil in a cruse and a scattered handful of meal dusting the bottom of a barrel. She was about to prepare their last meal. Elijah’s asking for a morsel of bread seems cruel in this desperate situation -truly desperate except for God! We are not able to estimate the amount of oil and meal in terms of gallons and barrels, but they ” … did eat many days” (verse 15), and there was enough. It lasted until Elijah left Mount Carmel, until the rains came, and until the famine was lifted.
When things seem “like a famine” and the “oil” and the “meal” are low, are we tempted to withhold from God lest there be not enough? Remembering the widow, we must give to God first. God has ways. How there was enough “for many days” we don’t know – except that God did it- and herein is our assurance and grounds for faith!
A LITTLE CLOUD (I KINGS 18)
A prayer of Elijah had driven the rain from Israel’s skies, and another had brought :fire to earth to consume a drenched altar in contest with Baal’s prophets. Then this righteous man bowed low on Carmel’s heights and fervently prayed for rain and the breaking of the drought. Six times the servant scanned the hot, brassy skies and reported that he
saw nothing-but Elijah kept praying!
After the seventh trip, and a look toward the sea, a little cloud the size of a man’s hand was reported! After three and one-half years, one man, a prayer, and a little cloud-only a little cloud, but it was God’s cloud – the burning, thirsty earth was drinking in the cool, refreshing, and reviving downpour!
Elijah’s God waits for His “Elijahs” today, as James 5:16 tells us, ” … The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much”
A LITTLE FISH (MATTHEW 14)
To face a stadium: filled with five to ten thousand hungry people, and hope to feed them with only a single lunch might well be called impossible! So it might have been that day beside Galilee had not those few fish been placed in the hands of Jesus, and blessed by Him who ages before had created all things.
For the apostles alone it was beyond the realm of possibility. ” … send the multitudes away … ” (verse 15), they said. We say today, “The job is too great and the resources too small!” But wait! Listen! ” … Bring them hither to me” (verse 18), said Jesus, and the fainting multitude had more than enough and were strengthened!
So today -first into His hands, back into ours, and then to the multitude who wait. It is not ours to bewail the “littleness” of what we have, but to dedicate it to Christ for His blessing in order that they need not go away – but have enough.
A LITTLE CHILD (MATTHEW 18)
How small he must have seemed in the midst of that crowd of apostles as Christ lifted him to His lap! He was just a ” … little child … ” (verse 2), but who can measure the space and place that he occupied in the ministry of the apostles, the plan of God, and the salvation of multitudes!
The reason is quite simple. Where there is no humility, God gives no grace He fights against the proud. Therefore, if this little child, in his simple faith, obedience, and submissiveness brings the lesson of humility to these upon whom the launching of God’s program depends-how great is his place!
God may use some of His “little” children to teach some simple lessons needed by those “bigger” ones who may, because of our lessons taught, go forth to great things-of which we have become really a part! Nothing is actually “little” that touches God, souls, and eternity!
A LITTLE FLOCK (LUKE 12)
Placed alongside the non-professing world and the merely professing church, God’s own are a “little flock” both numerically and in natural strength. There is no merit in being “little” as a congregation(it might be a shame if our best has not been done to grow), but His presence in our midst is the important thing.
When we see what great things He has done with “the little” and “the few,” we must conclude that when God ceases to use the things that are “small” and “weak,” He will have ceased to be God.
“For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence” (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).