Spurgeon Meditations

 

Fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation: I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again.

Gen 46 3

Jacob must have shuddered at the thought of leaving the land of his father's sojourning and dwelling among heathen strangers. It was a new scene and likely to be a trying one: who shall venture among couriers of a foreign monarch without anxiety? Yet the way was evidently appointed for him and therefore he resolved to go. This is frequently the position of believers now--they are called to perils and temptations altogether untried: at such seasons let them imitate Jacob's example by offering sacrifices of prayer unto God and seeking His direction; let them not take a step until they have waited upon the Lord for His blessing: then they will have Jacob's companion to be their friend and helper. How blessed to feel assured that the Lord is with us in all our ways and condescends to go down into our humiliations and banishments with us! Even beyond the ocean our Father's love beams like the sun in its strength. We cannot hesitate to go where Jehovah promises His presence; even the valley of deathshade grows bright with the radiance of this assurance. Marching onwards with faith in their God believers shall have Jacob's promise. They shall be brought up again whether it be from the troubles of life or the chambers of death. Jacob's seed came out of Egypt in due time and so shall all the faithful pass unscathed through the tribulation of life and the terror of death. Let us exercise Jacob's confidence. "Fear not is the Lord's commandand His divine encouragement to those who at His bidding arelaunching upon new seas; the divine presence and preservationforbid so much as one unbelieving fear. Without our God weshould fear to move; but when He bids us to, it would bedangerous to tarry. Reader, go forward, and fear not.% 05/13/PM Thou art my portion O Lord." --Psalm 119:57 Look at thy possessions O believer and compare thy portion with the lot of thy fellowmen. Some of them have their portion in the field; they are rich and their harvests yield them a golden increase; but what are harvests compared with thy God who is the God of harvests? What are bursting granaries compared with Him who is the Husbandman and feeds thee with the bread of heaven? Some have their portion in the city; their wealth is abundant and flows to them in constant streams until they become a very reservoir of gold; but what is gold compared with thy God? Thou couldst not live on it; thy spiritual life could not be sustained by it. Put it on a troubled conscience and could it allay its pangs? Apply it to a desponding heart and see if it could stay a solitary groan or give one grief the less? But thou hast God and in Him thou hast more than gold or riches ever could buy. Some have their portion in that which most men love--applause and fame; but ask thyself is not thy God more to thee than that? What if a myriad clarions should be loud in thine applause would this prepare thee to pass the Jordan or cheer thee in prospect of judgment? No there are griefs in life which wealth cannot alleviate; and there is the deep need of a dying hour for which no riches can provide. But when thou hast God for thy portion thou hast more than all else put together. In Him every want is met whether in life or in death. With God for thy portion thou art rich indeed for He will supply thy need comfort thy heart assuage thy grief guide thy steps be with thee in the dark valley and then take thee home to enjoy Him as thy portion for ever. "I have enough said Esau; this is the best thing a worldly man cansay, but Jacob replies, I have all things which is a note toohigh for carnal minds.% 05/14/PM He shall gather the lambs with His arm and carry them in His bosom." --Isaiah 40:11 Who is He of whom such gracious words are spoken? He is THE GOOD SHEPHERD. Why doth He carry the lambs in His bosom? Because He hath a tender heart and any weakness at once melts His heart. The sighs the ignorance the feebleness of the little ones of His flock draw forth His compassion. It is His office as a faithful High Priest to consider the weak. Besides He purchased them with blood they are His property: He must and will care for that which cost Him so dear. Then He is responsible for each lamb bound by covenant engagements not to lose one. Moreover they are all a part of His glory and reward. But how may we understand the expression He will carry them ? Sometimes He carries them by not permitting them to endure much trial. Providence deals tenderly with them. Often they are "carried" by being filled with an unusual degree of love so that they bear up and stand fast. Though their knowledge may not be deep they have great sweetness in what they do know. Frequently He "carries" them by giving them a very simple faith which takes the promise just as it stands and believingly runs with every trouble straight to Jesus. The simplicity of their faith gives them an unusual degree of confidence which carries them above the world. He carries the lambs in His bosom. Here is boundless affection. Would He put them in His bosom if He did not love them much? Here is tender nearness: so near are they that they could not possibly be nearer. Here is hallowed familiarity: there are precious love-passages between Christ and His weak ones. Here is perfect safety: in His bosom who can hurt them? They must hurt the Shepherd first. Here is perfect rest and sweetest comfort. Surely we are not sufficiently sensible of the infinite tenderness of Jesus!


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