Evening, May 21
Go To Morning Reading
“There is corn in Egypt.”
Genesis 42:2
Famine pinched all the nations, and it seemed inevitable that Jacob
and his family should suffer great want; but the God of providence,
who never forgets the objects of electing love, had stored a granary
for his people by giving the Egyptians warning of the scarcity, and
leading them to treasure up the grain of the years of plenty. Little
did Jacob expect deliverance from Egypt, but there was the corn in
store for him. Believer, though all things are apparently against
thee, rest assured that God has made a reservation on thy behalf;
in the roll of thy griefs there is a saving clause. Somehow he will
deliver thee, and somewhere he will provide for thee. The quarter
from which thy rescue shall arise may be a very unexpected one, but
help will assuredly come in thine extremity, and thou shalt magnify
the name of the Lord. If men do not feed thee, ravens shall; and if
earth yield not wheat, heaven shall drop with manna. Therefore be
of good courage, and rest quietly in the Lord. God can make the sun
rise in the west if he pleases, and make the source of distress the
channel of delight. The corn in Egypt was all in the hands of the
beloved Joseph; he opened or closed the granaries at will. And so
the riches of providence are all in the absolute power of our Lord
Jesus, who will dispense them liberally to his people. Joseph was
abundantly ready to succour his own family; and Jesus is unceasing
in his faithful care for his brethren. Our business is to go after
the help which is provided for us: we must not sit still in despondency,
but bestir ourselves. Prayer will bear us soon into the presence of
our royal Brother: once before his throne we have only to ask and
have: his stores are not exhausted; there is corn still: his heart
is not hard, he will give the corn to us. Lord, forgive our unbelief,
and this evening constrain us to draw largely from thy fulness and
receive grace for grace.