Job 33:29-30 See, all these things works God oftentimes with man,… Everybody knows the story of Job. The several steps in the ladder of God's purposes appear as follows: — 1. Earthly worries are heavenly blessings, not curses. Coming from the oldest book in the Bible, we behold in Job the representative man of trouble. The fact that afflictions were sent upon him, only proves that God had not let go of him yet. Darkness was but a proof of light, just as the shadow on the sundial proves the existence of the sun. These disturbances of our times only show that God does care what becomes of us. The best friend the Alpine climber can have is the faithful guide, who arouses him from fatal drowsiness by blows, harsh and painful. 2. The second step is, God's rule in visiting sorrows upon us is purpose, not simply permission. He does not merely permit troubles to come upon us, He sends them. Any other idea implies that somebody is stronger than God. If anyone chastises us, let it be our Heavenly Father. 3. God worketh. The heathen have a god, Brahma, who rests in an eternal sleep. We have a God that worketh. He saves us as the surgeon, by earnest, resolute work — cutting off a limb, or taking away an eye. Caught in the grip of providence, we can say nothing. The fountain cannot be constructed without demolishing much that is beautiful; the grass, the soil upheaved, the unsightly debris, are all processes of necessary work. At last all is put back again, the green soil is restored, and a fountain is the result. So is it with the fountain of the new life. 4. The range of the omnipotent eye is over all the world at once. He subdues us by concerted processes, and persistent ones. "I could have taken a hurt," says one, "but to be utterly overthrown is more than I deserved," which shows the heart still in rebellion. 5. The fifth step indicates God's aim to be the full redemption of man. It is from the pit tie saves him. God means business; He means at whatever cost to save souls. 6. We have God's promise to give perfect light out of darkness, hope instead of unbelief, Heaven instead of the pit. By and by we realise that it is after all better that things should be as they are, that intelligence guides the universe.In view of this, one of two things you can do — 1. You can resist this purpose. But no man ever prospered who resisted God's will; or, 2. You accept this will, and adjust your purposes accordingly. If you yield, He will cease His chastisements. And this is natural, easy, and proper. (C. S. Robinson, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man,WEB: "Behold, God works all these things, twice, yes three times, with a man, |
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