Trace
Amounts

Thomas Tuchyna

Many people find it intriguing that our bodies contain elements such as
iron, normally associated with steel structures and support beams, or
copper typically used to transmit large levels of electrical power in
cables or minute electronic signals in wires. The truth is that these
elements are found in trace amounts and referred to as trace
elements.

Medical science has long demonstrated that trace elements – elements found
in such minute quantities that sophisticated examinations and
equipment detects almost zero amounts - are essential to our
nutrition or physiological processes. For example, vanadium is the
body’s least abundant element, representing only about 0.00011
grams of the weight of an average 70kg person, yet it is understood
to have a biologic role in heart function, regulation of blood
glucose levels and in formation of bone. In industry, vanadium is
used to strengthen steel and improve the lubricative properties of oils.

The presence of small amounts has parallels in God’s word, especially
as it relates to a minority presence of God’s people. A minority is
a smaller or lesser part, a group of people, separated from the rest
of the community by a difference of their race, religion, language or
some other distinction. Interestingly it is possible to be a
minority, even within the relatively larger group of God’s people.
For example, we read of Caleb who was part of a minority people, the
Jews, and one of only two spies of the promised land. Yet Caleb’s
response when asked to give a report of Canaan was “And
Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at
once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it”.
Numbers 13:30 . Caleb spoke encouragingly. He admitted the strength
of the people but did not despair, even though most of the people had
been convinced that they were not capable by the other spies. Taking
the promised land from the Canaanites was not about military
capability, but about whether the people really trusted that the Lord
would drive out their enemy. Caleb and Joshua passed the test, and
later we read “But my servant Caleb, because
he had another spirit with him and has followed me fully, him will I
bring into the land whereinto he went, and his seed shall possess it.” Num 14:24 .

God’s word tells us of Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego who served Jehovah only
( Daniel 3:18 ); about Daniel who prayed to God always (Daniel 6:8);
Elisah who saw deliverance, (2 Kings 6:16 ); Esther who was
willing to petition ( Esther 4:16 ) and Gideon who had only a small
army ( Judges 7:6-7 ). All these and many more are part of a small
minority of people (few of few) who truly stood for, acknowledged and
desired to see the Lord glorified through their circumstances. These
individuals or groups of people were different in their belief,
courage, boldness and their unmovable stance in the Lord was not in
vain, so much so that their actions affected the course and history
of the nation of Israel. They are like the trace elements, a
minority, so that their trust in the Lord made a big difference to
and governed vital functions.

In this world, we are the minority if we truly walk and trust according
to God’s ways. Our role is to remain that precious trace element to
fulfill our part. We must be different from our surrounds. We cannot
blend in and become as the multitude, else our value and
functionality become lost. Jesus used a similar example when he said
“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the
salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is
thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and to be trodden
under foot of men” Matt 5:13 .

So what do we need to do? “…be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,
forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” 1 Corinthians 15:58 
In this away, the minority of you and I, can fulfill the vital role
required by the body of the kingdom of God, just like the trace
element in our bodies.