DARK
PROVIDENCES CLEARED DUE TIME
"Jesus answered and said unto him, What
I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter." -- John 13:7
How
many times have you seen or known some terribly painful, traumatic, almost
devastating thing, and thought to yourself - “What good can come of this? How
can this work for good? How will this benefit anyone? Can this be honoring to
God?” We know that our heavenly Father is too wise to err, too good to do
wrong, and too strong to fail. Yet, when tragedies come close to home we cannot
help asking, “Why did this thing happen?” We may not openly say it, but in
frustration, perhaps even in anger and resentment, we ask, “God what are you
doing?” This is God’s gracious, merciful answer to our astonishment, confusion,
and unbelief - “WHAT I DO THOU KNOWEST
NOT NOW; BUT THOU SHALT KNOW HEREAFTER.”
When Jacob awoke from his dream,
he said, “Surely, the Lord is in this
place; and I knew it not” (Gen. 28:16). When Samson’s strength was gone, we
are told, “He wist not that the Lord was
departed from him” (Jud. 16:20). What is said of our God’s presence and
absence, of his comings and goings, may also be said of his doings. “What I do,” he says, “Thou knowest not now.”
“God moves in
a mysterious way His wonders to perform.
He plants His
footsteps in the sea, And rides upon the storm.”
Deep, in
unfathomable mines Of never failing skill,
He treasures
up His bright designs, And works His sovereign will.
Ye
fearful saints, fresh courage take, The clouds you so much dread
Are big with
mercy and will break In blessings on your head.
Judge not the
Lord by feeble sense, But trust Him for His grace.
Behind the
frowning providence He hides a smiling face.
His purposes
will ripen fast, Unfolding every hour.
The bud may
have a bitter taste, But sweet will be the flower!
Jacob
cried, “All these things are against me” (Gen.
42:36), because he did not know what God was doing. Joseph’s path of experience
never seemed to match God’s promise of grace, until he was on the throne in
Egypt and his family was saved. I am sure Moses’ was terribly confused when he
announced that God had sent him to deliver Israel and Israel turned against
him, because their sorrow was increased.
“Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary; they way is in the
seas, thy paths in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known” (Psa.
77:13;19). “Thy judgments are a great
deep” (Psa. 36:6).
Sometimes
God’s providence appears to contradict his promises. Sometimes his acts of
mercy and grace in providence look and feel like acts of wrath and judgment.
Sometimes God appears to be favorable to the wicked and angry with the
righteous. Many, many things in this world are confusing to God’s saints. He
often seems to lift with one hand and casts down with the other. He appears to
heal with one and wound with the other. But this should not surprise us.
He told us
plainly. “What I do thou knowest not
now.” And there is a reason for it. OUR
LORD WILL NOT LET US WALK BY SIGHT IN THIS WORLD. He demands and deserves
that we walk by faith. Yet, he gives us this blessed promise, to assure and
comfort our troubled hearts - “BUT THOU
SHALT KNOW HEREAFTER.” In God’s time, everything will be cleared up; and we
will know what God has done (Rom. 11:33-36).
Grace Baptist Church of Danville - Grace For
Today Radio Message #749
2734 Old Stanford
Road - Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438
Donald S. Fortner, Pastor -Telephone 606-236-8235 - Email grace@mis.net