One of the things that had discouraged the people at first and caused them to retreat into their own lifestyle burrows was disappointment. They expected that their return would mark the beginning of the new age prophesied by Ezekiel and Daniel. But when the temple foundation went in, while many rejoiced, the older people could only lament over the comparison between what they were building and what had been destroyed before. The disappointment on the part of the older people seems to have been infectious because eventually everyone lost enthusiasm for the project. The prophet Haggai assured these people, however, that the glory of the new temple would outshine that of the former temple. But this would not happen if they were unwilling to start with what they had. Sometimes, in our desire to see big things happen, we neglect the small steps that lead to the big things. It is good to have great expectations but great Kingdom breakthroughs come about by small steps of obedience. God calls us to build small things before we build big things. The new age that Haggai referred to in chapter 2 is now. God is shaking the nations and his glory has indeed filled his house (2:7) which is the church (Acts 2; Ephesians 2:21-22). Great things are happening in the world but they all take place through the small acts of obedience of God’s people. If you want to be a part of the great things that God is doing in the world, start with a small step of faith and obedience.
Think about what small act of obedience God is asking from you.
Read Haggai 2
