A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY (1)

Victor M. Eskew

 

          When a child is growing up, he will sometimes hear the words, “a little goes a long way.”  A little glue goes a long way.  A little cologne goes a long way.  A little salt goes a long way. And, a little kindness goes a long way. 

          In the Bible, we find some examples of a little going a long way.  An incident in the life of Moses teaches us that a little disobedience goes a long way.  During the wilderness wanderings, the children of Israel were extremely thirsty when they reached Kadesh.  They became so distressed that they chided with Moses and Aaron.  Moses and Aaron took the matter to the Lord.  They fell upon their faces before the door of the tabernacle, and the glory of God appeared unto them (Num. 20:6).  “And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Take the rod, and gather the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock:  so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts to drink” (Num.20:7-8). 

Numbers 20:9-11, reveals Moses’ disobedience to God. “And Moses took the rod from before the Lord, as he commanded him.  And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels, must we fetch you water out of this rock?  And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice:  and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.”  Instead of speaking to the rock, Moses smote the rock twice.  This seems like a very minute matter to man.  This is especially true when one is reminded that smiting a rock was the manner in which Moses had brought forth water to Israel on another occasion when Israel thirsted (See Exo. 17:1-7). 

Moses’ disobedience, however, was not a little matter to God.  “And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them” (Num. 20:12).  The Lord let Moses, Aaron, and the children of Israel know that a little disobedience goes a long way.  All disobedience is transgression of God’s law.  Too, disobedience fails to set God apart in the heart and life of the individual.  For forty years, Moses would lead Israel in the wilderness.  However, when it came time to cross the Jordan and enter the Promised Land, he would not be allowed to go in.  Yes, disobedience is serious.  While at the edge of the Jordon River, Moses pled with God to be allowed to go into the Promised Land.  God denied the plea (See Deut. 3:23-26).  At the close of Moses’ life, he was allowed to go upon a mountain and see Canaan, but he was not allowed to enter therein (Deut. 32:48-52; 34:1-7).  Dear readers, do not be deceived into thinking that your sins are so small that they do not matter.  A little disobedience goes a long way.  One “little sin” still requires the blood of Jesus, a very high price, in order for it to be removed from our lives.

          In the life of Jonathan, the son of Saul, we learn that a little goes a long way.  The Philistines were bitter enemies of the Israelites. On one occasion, the Philistines were positioned upon a sharp rock against Israel ready to do battle. Rather than immediately going forth to do battle, the text tells us that “Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron…” (1 Sam. 14:2).  Jonathan knew action needed to be taken.  So, he said unto his armourbearer, “Come, let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison, that is on the other side” (1 Sam. 14:1). He did this without the knowledge of his father.  Too, the people of Israel that were with Saul did not know of Jonathan’s departure.

          As Jonathan and his armourbearer drew near to the Philistine camp, Jonathan spoke to the young man again, saying:  “Come, let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised:  it may be that the Lord will work for us:  for there is no restraint of the Lord to save by many or by few” (1 Sam. 14:6).  This attack would be conducted by only two men.  Two men do not constitute a large army.  In fact, one might say that they were not an army at all.  Jonathan, however, was convinced that a little could go along way in the hands of God.  Listen to Jonathan’s words again:  “For there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few.”  The armourbearer also possessed great faith. “And his amourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart:  turn thee:  behold, I am with thee according to thine heart” (1 Sam. 14:7). 

          Jonathan told his armourbearer that they would go up and discover themselves to the Philistines.  If the Philistines invited them to come up to fight, this would be a sign the Lord had delivered them into their hands (1 Sam. 14:10).  Jonathan and his armourbearer revealed themselves, “and the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will show you a thing.  And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me:  for the Lord hath delivered them into the hand of Israel. And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and his feet, and his armourbearer after him:  and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him.  And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were a half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow” (1 Sam.14:12-14). 

          Human beings are always impressed with great numbers of people.  Everyone wants to be associated with the largest churches in town.  Numbers, however, do not indicate God’s approval.  Numbers are not indicative of great faith.  God can win victories over the enemy with two individuals.  Small forces armed with the power of God can do marvelous things.  The key is for those small forces to trust God and move forward.  As the hymn declares:  “The battle belongs to the Lord.”  In His hands, a small army goes a long way.