Dear Ones:
It is a remarkable testimony to the heart and mind of God, that He chooses small things to accomplish His purposes. Such was the case of a little town called Bethlehem. “…But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be “little among the thousands of Judah”, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto Me that is to be the ruler of Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” (Micah 5:2) We know from the testimony of Scripture that, not only the “little” town or village of Bethlehem was to be the place of the Savior’s birth, but in the humblest, most “insignificant” manner. Indeed, not only does God delight in the “little,” as it would appear in the eyes of men, but He brings great glory to His name, in using showing forth the glory of His person, nature, purposes, and ways.
When David went to battle with Goliath, he did so as a young shepherd with a sling. We might say he was a little thing, and a little thing he used to defeat the enemy. When Gideon faced the Midianites, an innumerable multitude, he had only 300 men. This event would be preceded by his declaration to the Lord, “…my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.,” (Judges 6:14). To this one who is “little in his own eyes,” God would declare, “…Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.” (v.16) Lastly, the great Apostle Paul, who like Moses, though “mightily” equipped in talent, strength, and natural ability, would become the one who would write to the Corinthians, “…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…(v.27) Now, why is it that God chooses the things that are little in their own eyes? It is very simple, so that He may appear to be great in their eyes, and with faith that conquers and overcomes, He will move in their behalf, and they will give Him the glory.
So, today, let us not be dominated by our own “littleness,” and not despise the day of small things. Let us realize and believe that God delights to do the wonderful thing, and this, through those who wholly trust Him. Annie Marston captured the reality of these truths in one of her hymns: “I take Thee as my wisdom too, for wisdom’s sum Thou art; Thou, who dost choose the foolish things, set me henceforth apart…I take Thee to be my all, since all Thou art is mine, I nothing have, and nothing am, that nothing, Lord is Thine. Thou shalt be everything to me, in all things my sufficiency.”
Love, Dad