ONCE it was my way to ask my Father to overrule for good, various happenings in my life which I considered were contrary to His intentions. I no longer pursue this path for I find that perfect peace lies in another direction. All is of God, not nearly all, and God is not constantly at work counteracting my wrongs, for in His sight we (the saints) are perfect. I have no freewill, for my life is hid with Christ in God. Abraham will be justified for taking Hagar into his keeping, and bringing forth Ishmael, for God needed Ishmael. Moses accomplished God's intention when he fled from the house of Pharaoh, and the road he took was the exact one already mapped out for him, leading to God. Abraham carried out God's plan when on two occasions he called Sarah his sister, for God had a lesson to teach Abimelech, and a blessing in store for him and his seed. In nature we note that there is a fixed time for almost everything: the rising of the sun and the moon, the tides, the seasons, all come and go exactly to time. There is a time to be born and a time to die, over which we have no control. I like to think that Pharaoh's daughter left her house at the right time, and that the cry of the babe Moses was on time, bringing the needed sympathy and kindliness which saved his life, and I like to think that God was behind that cry, for He needed Moses to deliver His people Israel. Jacob arrived with his venison on time, while Esau seemed to have arrived too late; both were correct by God's clock. The voice came from heaven just as Abraham had lifted the knife to slay Isaac, not a moment too soon or too late. If the voice had been a few moments later Isaac would have been slain, or had Abraham been too quick with his knife the same result would have followed, but no, everything was just right, and round the corner exactly on time was a ram caught in the thicket. Saul on the Damascus Road; Peter warming himself by the fire; the thrice-sounded crowing of the cock; the rich man's tomb; the disciples walking along the road and meeting the risen Lord; eleven disciples only in the upper room; twelve disciples in the same room, which called for a second appearing of our beloved Lord; all these happenings were on time, and the clock was regulated by none other than God Himself. How carefree such thoughts can make our daily walk through this hustling and uneasy world! What a stimulus to faith to know for certain that our steps are ordered by Him, and that all our times are in His Hands, all events at His command! |
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