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God's children run home
when the storm comes on.
(by Spurgeon)
"O that I knew where I might find him!"
Job 23:3
In Job's uttermost extremity he cried after
the Lord. The longing desire of an afflicted
child of God is once more to see his Father's
face. His first prayer is not "O that I might be
healed of the disease which now festers in
every part of my body!" nor even "O that I
might see my children restored from the jaws
of the grave, and my property once more
brought from the hand of the spoiler."
But the first and uppermost cry is, "O that I
knew where I might find HIM, who is my God!
that I might come even to his seat!"
God's children run home
when the storm comes on.
It is the heaven born instinct of a gracious
soul to seek shelter from all ills beneath the
wings of Jehovah. "He that has made his refuge
God," might serve as the title of a true believer.
A hypocrite, when afflicted by God, resents
the infliction, and, like a slave, would run
from the Master who has scourged him.
But not so the true heir of heaven, he
kisses the hand which smote him, and
seeks shelter from the rod in the bosom
of the God who frowned upon him.
Job's desire to commune with God was
intensified by the failure of all other sources
of consolation. The patriarch turned away
from his sorry friends, and looked up to
the celestial throne, just as a traveler turns
from his empty skin bottle, and betakes
himself with all speed to the well. He bids
farewell to earth born hopes, and cries,
"O that I knew where I might find my God!"
Nothing teaches us so much the
preciousness of the Creator, as when
we learn the emptiness of all besides.
Turning away with bitter scorn from earth's
hives, where we find no honey, but many
sharp stings, we rejoice in him whose faithful
word is sweeter than honey or the honeycomb.
In every trouble we should first seek to
realize God's presence with us. Only let us
enjoy his smile, and we can bear our daily
cross with a willing heart for his dear sake.
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