1147. The Methods by the Way–Blessings

The Methods by the Way–Blessings

"Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years" (Deu_8:4).

We must not think that God sends only sufferings and sorrows in order to prove us; He also proves us with blessings. The children of God often show the sin of their heart more, when they are highly favored, than when they are sorely tried. Let us examine into some of Israel's blessings.

1. He fed thee with manna. It was a wonderful scene when the children of Israel awoke and found the manna, angel's food, upon the ground. There was abundance for all, yet the children of Israel actually loathed the manna, and longed for the onions, the garlic and the melons of Egypt.

Are we better than they? Is not our Lord the manna that came down from Heaven? Is He not the One Who satisfies the soul? At His right hand, are there not pleasures, and in His presence are there not joys forever more? Then why this rush to the world to feed our souls? Are not thousands of young men and women leaving the Heavenly Manna, and crowding their way back to the flesh pots of Egypt? Why do the church-members throng the gates of the theater; why do they press into the movies; why do they hasten to the dance; why do they revel in the card party? They have forsaken the Bread that came down from Heaven; they are spending their money for that which is not Bread, and their labor for that which satisfieth not.

2. Thy raiment waxed not old. It is a wonderful thing when we remember that during forty years of travel the children of Israel found their garments ever fresh, just as though they had come from the spinning wheel.

3. Thy foot swelled not. They were continually on the travel, but their feet were never sore. Of course, this was not humanly possible; it was miraculous; it was of God.

4. No disease befell Israel during the forty years of wilderness journeying. Through many deprivations, through a land of drought where there was no water; through a desert where there was no food; through great and terrible swamps and pitfalls, where lurked the fiery serpent and the scorpion; God led them on and there were none sick among them. It was only after they had sinned and God sent the curse, that their bodies were strewn in the wilderness. God kept them and sustained them and led them through.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR