The Small Source of a Great River

In elementary school, we learned that the source of the Nile is in Rwanda, in the natural forest of Nyungwe, now known as Nyungwe National Park. Some sources and books say otherwise, but I will hold to what I learned in primary school because this is not a geography lesson.

In 2008, I had the opportunity to visit the Nile River in Egypt. It was majestic, vast, impressive, and beautiful. Large boats cruised along the water, and many communities had grown around it, serving thousands of people.

Then, in 2015, I visited what is believed to be the source of the Nile in Nyungwe National Park. It was only a small brook, so narrow that we could cross it on foot. There were no crowds of tourists, no boats, and nothing outwardly impressive, just a stream making its quiet noise as it ran downstream.

Yet the Nile, which flows into the Mediterranean Sea, crosses eleven African countries, and is still believed to be the world’s longest river at about 6,650 kilometres, would not exist without that small, unknown brook deep in the forest of Nyungwe.

God’s Pattern of Growth

The verse above refers to the nation of Israel, but spiritually it also speaks to the Church of Jesus Christ. It is a promise from God, a promise of growth. Though the beginning may seem small, unimpressive, or even contemptible, God is able to multiply it greatly.

The normal order of growth is that things begin small and increase over time. Growth requires time, effort, humility, and consistency. Yet many people do not want to begin in a low place. Zechariah 4:10 reminds us, “Do not dare despise the days of small things.” Some translations call them the days of small beginnings.

Consider how the apostles began the work that became the Church of God we know today. They were like the brook in Nyungwe: unknown, humble, and unimpressive to the human eye. But what would have happened if that small source had refused to flow? We would not have the beautiful and majestic Church we see today.

Keep Flowing Forward

Joe Sabah, an American author and speaker, once said, “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” Many large corporations began in garages. Many well-known ministers preached for years in front of empty chairs before they experienced a breakthrough. Their growth required time, commitment, courage, and sacrifice, but eventually, the brook became a river.

Imagine the obstacles that small stream had to overcome in order to keep flowing. Be like that stream: find a way, keep moving, and go forward with the strength you have (Judges 6:14). Even if you have received only one talent, do not be like the unfaithful servant. Use it, trade with it, and multiply it.

This is how the small becomes a multitude. Do not allow fear of failure or the mockery of others to stop you from dreaming, serving, and growing. For those who dream and dare, God has promised to make it happen in its time.

An Unexpected Burn

I have some unusual habits, and one of them is the way I make my tea. Every day, I use the same cup, add milk to the same level, and heat it in the microwave for the same amount of time. It is part of my routine. One day, something went wrong. Perhaps the microwave was not working properly, but when I reached for the cup, I seriously burned one of my fingers. The burn took time to heal and left a visible scar. After that, I became very cautious whenever I removed my cup from the microwave. For several days, nothing happened. Eventually, I stopped paying attention and convinced myself that the burn had been a one-time accident. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, I was burned again. After that second time, I thought, “This is how the devil works: he waits until we are no longer paying attention, then strikes when we least expect it.”

The Devil Waits for an Opportunity

Last week, we talked about the devil’s tactics. We said that when we resist him, he will leave us, and that is true. The Bible says, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). But the devil does not leave forever. He waits for another opportunity and comes back again and again, because he never gives up.

In Luke 4, we read about Jesus being tempted by the devil in the wilderness. Jesus defeated him three times until Satan had no more arguments to present. Yet Scripture says that the devil did not surrender; he departed and waited for an opportune time.

That opportune time appears in the garden of Gethsemane. In the final hours of Jesus’ earthly life, the Bible tells us that His soul was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death (Matthew 26:38) and that He was in such anguish that His sweat became like drops of blood (Luke 22:44). Though Scripture does not describe every detail of the spiritual battle, we can imagine the enemy whispering, “This cup is too heavy. You cannot drink it. Give up. Why should You die for them? They sinned; You did not.”

Once again, Jesus gained victory by remaining in God’s presence and surrendering completely to the Father’s will: “Not my will, but Yours be done.”

Stay Watchful After Victory

As Christians, we cannot afford to become careless. The devil does not take a holiday, so we must remain vigilant against every attack. Complacency can open the door for something we thought we had already overcome to return again.

This is especially true after a victory. A victory today does not guarantee victory forever. In 1 Kings 20:22, the prophet told the king of Israel, “Strengthen your position and see what must be done, because next spring the king of Aram will attack you again.” In other words, the king could celebrate the victory, but he also needed to remember that the enemy would look for another opportunity to attack.

The Bible gives the same warning in 1 Corinthians 10:12: “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!”. Do not stop watching after a breakthrough. Do not assume yesterday’s victory protects you from tomorrow’s temptation. Do not allow hard-earned progress to slip away through carelessness.

If things are going well, that is all the more reason to remain alert. Stay close to God, keep your guard up, and protect the victories He has helped you win.

A Lesson from the Hunt

I was watching a documentary recently that included a short scene about hunting. A group of hunters was chasing a young wild pig, and the frightened animal ran into a bush to hide. The leader of the group told the others, “Flush out the animal.” The hunters began making noise, beating the trees, and clanging metal together. They created such an unbearable commotion that the pig eventually ran out of its hiding place. The hunters, waiting outside the bush, killed it easily. What the animal did not know was that the bush was the safest place it could be. If it had stayed hidden a little longer, the hunters may have grown tired and left. Its danger was not in the hiding place; its danger came when it was pressured into leaving it.

The Enemy’s Strategy

“Flush out the animal” is one of the devil’s deadly tactics against God’s children. The enemy knows that as long as we remain hidden in God’s hand, he has no power over us. So he creates disturbance around us until we are tempted to step out of the safety of God’s presence on our own. This is why Scripture tells us to be sober-minded and watchful. The devil’s goal is not merely to disturb or frighten us; his goal is to destroy us. The noise, fear, pressure, and confusion are all part of his strategy to lure us away from God’s protection.

He may roar like an angry lion and throw all kinds of trouble at us. He may attack our health, family, career, or finances. He may try to convince us that God has forgotten us, that waiting on Him is useless, and that we must find our own way out.

This is the same tactic Satan used when he tempted Jesus. After forty days of fasting, he urged Him to turn stones into bread. In other words, he tempted Jesus to step outside the Father’s will and meet His need on His own terms. But Jesus resisted, and Satan left Him for a time while angels came and ministered to Him (Matthew 4:1-11).

The Lord remains our safest refuge. As Proverbs 18:10 says, “The Lord is a strong fortress. The godly run to him and are safe.” Job understood this truth. Even when the enemy tried to push him to “curse God and die,” Job refused to leave the fortress of God’s protection.

Remain Hidden in God

The writer of Psalm 119 declared, “You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.” (Psalm 119:114, ESV). The people of the Bible knew what it meant to face unrest, opposition, and pressure. Ezra, who is believed by some to be connected with this psalm, grew up as a refugee in a foreign land. Even after returning to his homeland, he faced resistance from those who opposed his leadership. David, the author of many psalms, was tempted by his own men to kill Saul and take a shortcut to the throne.

The common lesson in these stories is clear: to defeat the enemy, we must remain watchful, vigilant, and anchored in God. We must refuse the pressure to leave the only safe place from the devil’s hunting. Remain hidden in God’s protection. Walk in obedience to His Word. Wait on His promises. If you endure the noise and refuse to be flushed out, the enemy will flee, and God will strengthen you in His presence