A Hammer and a Nail. Judges 4:21. Some people and things pass quickly, like ships in the night. They may be close together for a short time, then soon part ways with nothing truly accomplished; each just happens to pass by. We’ve looked at each other and spoken briefly, with little to say beyond a quick “Hello” and “Goodbye.” Others connect briefly as well, but significant things happen, like plants that open up and fruit that ripens quickly.
We meet at a conference and interact for a day or two. Then we go our separate ways—home, work, or school—and maybe even forget the name of the person we talked to. Some contacts, though short, have a great impact on us in that brief time. Some things and people are different, but they change things when they connect. A saw and a piece of wood only meet for a short time, but one goes away forever changed and shaped to become useful, while the other remains the same.
A hammer and a nail had brief contact in the hands of a woman named Jael. Each was of little importance alone; the nail required the hammer to accomplish lasting work. A hammer, unused, will become rusted and dirty even if it appears “as good as new.” All it took was a few quick contacts, and they changed a nation’s history. Then, each went back to whatever they had been doing before.
I may never understand the true value of a simple word spoken at the right time. It might be that in the future, my Lord will reveal to me the real purpose behind a brief encounter that didn’t last long. Someone in need or feeling weak was helped by another who was willing to obey God and lend a hand. A vehicle might stop on the road, and the person who offers help may never remember it, but someone in a distant land might see a need and remember, 'Someone helped me in the name of the Lord,' and the impact will be incredible as they pass on a faithful word.
Don’t overlook the small details or leave a simple task unfinished. Don’t dismiss a need someone has or a question that even a child, a foreigner, a stranger, or a neighbor might ask. God has used everyday people just as basic tools like a nail and a hammer can be used by a laborer. He can take what’s in your hand to change someone’s life forever. A woman had a pitcher with some oil in it, and a boy had his lunch of five loaves and two fish in their hands, and the Lord used it to bless others.