Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: July 8th

Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?- Numbers 20:10.

It is most probable that this harsh, severe speech of Moses, cut many of God’s dear children to the very heart and struck terror to their souls. Here we see the true nature of the holy law. It demands attention with power and authority, HEAR. Its voice is of terror; it speaks nothing but wrath to poor sinners’ consciences; it calls them by their proper name, REBELS. And what can the poor guilty trembling soul do to appease its terror and escape the wrath to come? Nothing. Alas, it "concludes him under sin," and leaves him as much without hope of mercy, as he has of drawing liquid streams from a barren rock. But by the gospel eye of faith we see that spiritual rock, Jesus, whom the law struck, and thirsty souls in all ages drink living water from this rock of their salvation. Jehovah loves his people; from the affection of his heart (notwithstanding their murmurings) he commands his servant to procure drink for them. But meek Moses reproves the children in wrath and in anger strikes the rock twice. The Lord resents his conduct and expressions toward them. Because the dear Lamb stood up in their behalf, and spoke in effect what Paul wrote to Philemon concerning Onesimus: "What my people owe to law and justice, put that to my account; I will pay all." Therefore the sword of divine justice "awoke against him;" he was struck by the severe rod of the law; and hence cooling streams of mercy, refreshing streams of peace, reviving streams of love, richly gushed out to parched, thirsty, dying souls. Yea, the water of this rock follows believing souls, as it did the children of Israel, all the way through the wilderness of this world. They all drink the same spiritual drink at the hands of the Spirit. What consolation to disciples, to consider that our spiritual rock ever stands stedfast and unmovable! that all who are built upon him are safe and secure from every danger! The storms of temptations, the waves of corruption may dash against them; but can never prevail. Jesus sustains them; everlasting love secures them; omnipotence surrounds them; and even justice and truth are engaged in their defence. Yes, poor believing soul, though the law rates thee a REBEL, and speaks in wrath against thee as such: though thou dost exceedingly quake and fear; yet ever remember, precious "Jesus hath received gifts for the rebellious." Waters of salvation flow plenteously from Jesus. It is thy mercy daily to "drink of this spiritual rock,"- 1 Corinthians 10:4.

Rebels, we broke our Maker’s laws;

He from the threat’ning sets us free.

Bore the full vengeance on his cross,

And nail’d the curses to the tree.

The law proclaims no terror now,

And Sinai’s thunder roars no more:

From all his wounds new blessings flow.

A sea of joy without a shore.

God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:9.

Here is a precious negative, a glorious positive, and happy souls. Lord help us to meditate upon them, to our profit. (1st.) The negative. “God hath not appointed us to wrath.” St. Paul has in his eye, what our proud nature cannot bear to hear of, the sovereignty of God. It is as though he had said, we are all by nature children of wrath. We have all by practice deserved wrath. Here is myself, the other day I did not know the Son of God, but persecuted him and his servants. If God had dealt with us according to our just deserts, we should have suffered his eternal wrath in hell. Is your conscience convinced of this? Do your eyes see it? Does your tongue confess this? Does your heart fear this? Rejoice with wonder. That just God, who had a sovereign right, yet will not appoint you to wrath for your sins. If you have trembled under a sense of wrath, now rejoice at the sound of everlasting love.

For, (2d.) Here is a glorious positive. “God hath appointed us to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ye poor, shortsighted beings, who talk of a possible salvation-of being brought into a salvable state-of a conditional salvation, suspended upon certain terms we are to perform, and of one knows not what unscriptural jargon. Behold and stand reproved. For ye weaken faith, deject hope, and damp love, in an absolute, sure, and certain salvation: appointed by God, for those who deserved wrath: even the salvation, the finished salvation of our Lord Christ. This, this is the blessed foundation for faith, the spring of hope, the source of love.

(But 3d.) Who are appointed to obtain it? I hope we will allow the Lord of all, the liberty which we mortals take, of appointing whom he pleases to live with. US; (1st.) whom God hath pleased to appoint. (2d.) US, for whom Christ died. (3d.) US, who are not in darkness. (4th.) US, who are the children of the light, and of the day. These characters stand in the context. Are they yours? Has God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, shined in your heart to give you the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ? Have you seen such glory in the face, the offices, the work of Christ, that you choose him for your Saviour, and trust him for your salvation? O fall down and adore sovereign love and free grace! God has as surely appointed you to salvation, as he did St. Paul or any of the apostles. Who shall disappoint God? If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31.)

We all deserve eternal wrath,

As the just wages due to sin;

But God appoints to all who’ve faith

In Christ, salvation to obtain.

Then what shall disappoint our God?

Or ever frustrate his intent:

O magnify his name abroad,

And love and praise him ev’ry saint.