The God of the Small Things
So the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Raise your staff and strike the ground. The dust will turn into swarms of gnats throughout the land of Egypt.’”
Exodus 8:16 (NLT)
All the plagues God sent against Egypt were intentional. They were judgments against Egypt’s folly, rebellion and false gods, but they were also insights into the spiritual reality surrounding God’s people. Take, for example, the plagues of flies and gnats. Swarms of tiny insects infested everything, bringing havoc and decay wherever they landed.
These third and fourth plagues remind us that God is in control of everything—the seen and unseen, the great and the small, even the things we tend to overlook. And what are insects like these drawn to? Death and decay. The infestation was a visible sign of the deeper spiritual decay consuming the land. Through these plagues, God showed that He alone is Lord over all things, large and small. Nothing is outside His command.
Spiritually, it’s often the small things, the hidden attitudes, thoughts and compromises of the heart, which cause great damage. Jesus speaks to this reality in the Sermon on the Mount, teaching that it is the inward state of our hearts that matters to Him, not just our external actions. In God’s kingdom, hatred is equal to murder, lust to adultery, and giving for the sake of being seen carries no eternal reward. God is not only concerned with outward behavior but also with the posture of our hearts.
Those small irritations in our lives may seem insignificant at first, but if left unchecked, they can lead to decay and destruction. We need God’s help not just in the big crises but in the little things, too. Just as the Egyptians were powerless against the flies and gnats, we are powerless over sin, fear and the trials of life without the intervention of a good and merciful God.
But here’s the good news: God isn’t interested in shaping a people who follow Him out of robotic obedience. He’s after our whole lives—our hearts, our desires, and our love. His jealous love is not harsh but kind, and in His kindness, He reveals anything that steals life, joy and growth from us. He is good, and we can trust Him to do the refining work that draws us closer to Him.
APPLICATION: Ask God to reveal the small things in your heart that pull you from Him and trust Him to bring renewal.
PRAYER: Father, thank You for being so intentional with everything, large and small. Search me and know me and show me how to live in Your truth in every way. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?