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TOPIC: MacDuff, John - The Christians Pathway (31 days) (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: Day 19
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"All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, to all those who keep his covenant and obey his decrees." Psa_25:10.
Many of the Lord's dispensations are deeply mysterious. His way is often in the sea, and His path in the great waters, and His footsteps are not known. Though "clouds and thick darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne." He does all things well—a consideration which should make us fully satisfied with His arrangements, however mysterious and troubling they may now appear. If we only wait patiently for Him, He will, in His own good time, bring us to see that they all work together for the present and everlasting well-being of His people.
How wonderful were the divine dealings as they are set forth in the history of Joseph. He was hated by his brethren; he was sold to mercenary men; he was taken to a distant and friendless land; he was calumniated by a shameless and chasteless woman; and at length he was incarcerated in a gloomy dungeon. What must his feelings have been, during his long confinement in prison? How often would he be likely to ask, "Why were my brothers permitted to sell me to strangers, and thereby pierce with anguish my father's heart, and expel me from my fondly cherished home? Why was that vile woman permitted to rob me of my character, by her slanderous accusations? Why was the butler, whose dream I so readily solved, unmindful to redeem his promise?"
Many questions of this kind, we can easily suppose, would be likely to start up in his mind. How strange, how dark—would the ways of God appear to be! We have every reason to believe that he submitted without murmuring, to all that he had to endure; but, undoubtedly, he knew not what to make of it; nor would we have known—had we been in his situation. Let, however, a few years revolve, and the clouds are dispersed, and the mystery is made known. Look at him as the governor in the whole land—as the monarch's distinguished favorite—as the appointed almoner of God's bounty to perishing thousands—and, especially, as the preserver and support of his aged and revered parent, who had received him as life from the dead. When Joseph is thus viewed—all the divine purposes are unfolded and made plain!
The language of Jacob was—"You have deprived me of my children! Joseph has disappeared, Simeon is gone, and now you want to take Benjamin, too. All these things are against me!" O mistaken saint! instead of being against you—they are all, from first to last, for you! And, old as you are, you shall live to see that such is the case!
See Jacob settled in the land of Goshen, living in the enjoyment of peace and plenty, his last days being by far the happiest of his whole life. And if there was anything to mar his enjoyment—t would be the recollection, not of the troubles through which he had passed—but the hard thoughts he may have entertained of that gracious Being who had overruled them all, for bringing about so blissful a consummation.
And what effect, O timid and troubled Christian, should the consideration of these things produce upon you? Should not fear be banished from your mind? Should not patience and submission be exercised? Should not a feeling of simple, child-like confidence be nourished? Should not a lively hope be indulged? O never yield to despondency, even under the most gloomy circumstances! Continue to trust in Him—who can bring light out of darkness, and who has declared that what we don't now now—we shall know hereafter.
Many of the Lord's dispensations are deeply mysterious. His way is often in the sea, and His path in the great waters, and His footsteps are not known. Though "clouds and thick darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne." He does all things well—a consideration which should make us fully satisfied with His arrangements, however mysterious and troubling they may now appear. If we only wait patiently for Him, He will, in His own good time, bring us to see that they all work together for the present and everlasting well-being of His people.
How wonderful were the divine dealings as they are set forth in the history of Joseph. He was hated by his brethren; he was sold to mercenary men; he was taken to a distant and friendless land; he was calumniated by a shameless and chasteless woman; and at length he was incarcerated in a gloomy dungeon. What must his feelings have been, during his long confinement in prison? How often would he be likely to ask, "Why were my brothers permitted to sell me to strangers, and thereby pierce with anguish my father's heart, and expel me from my fondly cherished home? Why was that vile woman permitted to rob me of my character, by her slanderous accusations? Why was the butler, whose dream I so readily solved, unmindful to redeem his promise?"
Many questions of this kind, we can easily suppose, would be likely to start up in his mind. How strange, how dark—would the ways of God appear to be! We have every reason to believe that he submitted without murmuring, to all that he had to endure; but, undoubtedly, he knew not what to make of it; nor would we have known—had we been in his situation. Let, however, a few years revolve, and the clouds are dispersed, and the mystery is made known. Look at him as the governor in the whole land—as the monarch's distinguished favorite—as the appointed almoner of God's bounty to perishing thousands—and, especially, as the preserver and support of his aged and revered parent, who had received him as life from the dead. When Joseph is thus viewed—all the divine purposes are unfolded and made plain!
The language of Jacob was—"You have deprived me of my children! Joseph has disappeared, Simeon is gone, and now you want to take Benjamin, too. All these things are against me!" O mistaken saint! instead of being against you—they are all, from first to last, for you! And, old as you are, you shall live to see that such is the case!
See Jacob settled in the land of Goshen, living in the enjoyment of peace and plenty, his last days being by far the happiest of his whole life. And if there was anything to mar his enjoyment—t would be the recollection, not of the troubles through which he had passed—but the hard thoughts he may have entertained of that gracious Being who had overruled them all, for bringing about so blissful a consummation.
And what effect, O timid and troubled Christian, should the consideration of these things produce upon you? Should not fear be banished from your mind? Should not patience and submission be exercised? Should not a feeling of simple, child-like confidence be nourished? Should not a lively hope be indulged? O never yield to despondency, even under the most gloomy circumstances! Continue to trust in Him—who can bring light out of darkness, and who has declared that what we don't now now—we shall know hereafter.