Morning, April 30
Go To Evening Reading
“And all the children of Israel murmured.”
Numbers 14:2
There are murmurers amongst Christians now, as there were in the camp
of Israel of old. There are those who, when the rod falls, cry out
against the afflictive dispensation. They ask, “Why am I thus afflicted? What have I done to be chastened in this
manner?” A word with thee, O murmurer! Why shouldst thou murmur against the
dispensations of thy heavenly Father? Can he treat thee more hardly
than thou deservest? Consider what a rebel thou wast once, but he
has pardoned thee! Surely, if he in his wisdom sees fit now to chasten
thee, thou shouldst not complain. After all, art thou smitten as hardly
as thy sins deserve? Consider the corruption which is in thy breast,
and then wilt thou wonder that there needs so much of the rod to fetch
it out? Weigh thyself, and discern how much dross is mingled with
thy gold; and dost thou think the fire too hot to purge away so much
dross as thou hast? Does not that proud rebellious spirit of thine
prove that thy heart is not thoroughly sanctified? Are not those murmuring
words contrary to the holy submissive nature of God’s children? Is not the correction needed? But if thou wilt murmur against the chastening, take heed, for it will go hard with
murmurers. God always chastises his children twice, if they do not
bear the first stroke patiently. But know one thing—“He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.” All his corrections are sent in love, to purify thee, and to draw
thee nearer to himself. Surely it must help thee to bear the chastening
with resignation if thou art able to recognize thy Father's hand. For “whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he
receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons.” “Murmur not as some of them also murmured and were destroyed of the
destroyer.”