How is it that thoughts rise in my mind about the promise
proving abortive? or how can I conclude that the delays of Providence are
ill-timed and unkind? Yet God, notwithstanding all the risings of unbelief
in my bosom—is punctual to a day.
Hence says Moses, that God brought forth the children of
Israel in the "self-same day" that he had promised, and that their
sojourning in the land of Egypt was completely expired. But what a groaning
time did the poor Israelites undergo! Their service was with rigor, their
bondage was bitter, their oppression unsupportable, and the cruelty of their
foes had arrived at that infernal pitch, as to plunge their helpless babes
into the river! At length, in this melancholy time, Moses was born; but this
sad season was spun out until he was forty years old, before he hinted to
his brethren that he it was that would deliver them. Yet this faint dawn of
relief immediately disappears; Moses is no more to be seen or heard of in
all the land of Egypt, and the night of sore affliction is protracted for
another forty years. Now, what cogitations of heart, may I suppose,
struggled all this time in the bosoms of Jacob's sons, in the bosom of
Moses! Well he knew, in what deplorable circumstances he had left his
brethren, nor knew he how their bondage might be increased in his absence;
yet, in the account of their glorious deliverance, he confesses that God was
a God of truth, and that, however he seemed to delay, still his suffering
people were brought forth from the iron furnace at the appointed time—and
not a day later than the promise!
Have I, then, any reason to complain of days and months
of delay? No! God has appointed a set time, and at the set time will
remember me. And it well befits me, though the time should seem long in my
view—to wait with patience for it. God has in all ages so dealt with his
people—for the exercise of their graces. And these trials, like the
instruments of the farmer, breaking up the fallow-ground of their heart,
make them bring forth a plenteous crop of precious fruits, whence accrues an
increase of glory to God, and unspeakable joy to their own souls, through
the ages of eternity! And is not this more than all that can rise from the
present and speedy performance of the promised blessing?
Then sit still, my soul, and calmly wait the end,
wondering more that justly-deserved judgments are not immediately executed
against you; than that expected blessings are for a while withheld.