PATIENCE

God had spoken words of promise to the people of Israel, and no matter if the cloud remained stationary twenty years instead of a few days. God had said, “I will take you into the land of Canaan,” and this ought to have been enough for them. Mark the impatience which these people exhibited on this occasion. And there is here much practical instruction to God’s people. How often do you say, “I am as convinced as that there is a God in heaven, that God will stand by His promises; He “is not a man that He should lie, neither the son of man that He should repent.” You say this and you say well; but then, what do you do? You go upon your knees in the attitude of prayer, and by the light of God’s Word, you ask for what you think you ought to ask for – that which is for the Lord’s glory and for your own spiritual good, and which He stands engaged to give. All this is reasonable, and right, and scriptural. But then you go a step further, and you are not satisfied to wait God’s time. You, like the people of Israel, want the Lord to go forth at your bidding. He must do what you require now, and in the way you choose. It is a great comfort to the Christian when he is enabled to say, I shall ask the Lord for what I want; the more faith I exercise in His promises the better, but I shall leave all in His hands. He will act as Sovereign in the matter.

W. H. Krause