Life and Times of David. Miscellaneous Writings of C. H. Mackintosh, vol. VI — John Shaqi
Life and Times of David. Miscellaneous Writings of C. H. Mackintosh, vol. VIMackintosh, Charles Henry
Religion
Life and Times of David. Miscellaneous Writings of C. H. Mackintosh, vol. VI
Mackintosh, Charles Henry
Theology
But alas, alas, we are unbelieving! Here lies the source of weakness
and failure. We are perplexed and agitated, when we ought to be calm
and confiding; we are casting about, when we ought to be counting on
God; we are "beckoning to our partners," when we ought to be "looking
unto Jesus." Thus it is we lose immensely, and dishonor the Lord in
our ways. Doubtless there are few things for which we have to be more
deeply humbled than our tendency to distrust the Lord when
difficulties and trials present themselves; and assuredly we grieve
the heart of Jesus by thus distrusting Him, for distrust must always
wound a loving heart. Look, for example, at the scene between Joseph
and his brethren in Gen. 50: "And when Joseph's brethren saw that
their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us,
and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him. And
they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command
before he died, saying, So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray
thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did
unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the
servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake
unto him."
It was a sad return for the love and tender care which Joseph had
exercised towards them. How could they suppose that one who had so
freely and fully forgiven them, and spared their lives when they were
entirely in his power, would, after so many years of kindness, turn
upon them in anger and revenge? It was indeed a grievous wrong, and it
was no marvel that "Joseph wept when they spake unto him." What an
answer to all their unworthy fear and dark suspicion! A flood of
tears! Such is love! "And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in
the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God
meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much
people alive. Now therefore, fear ye not: _I will nourish you, and
your little ones_. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them."
Thus was it with the disciples on the occasion to which our paper
refers. Let us meditate a little on the passage.
"And the same day, when the even was come, Jesus saith unto them, Let
us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the
multitude, they took Him even as He was in the ship; and there were
also with Him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of
wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And
He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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