The Sphere of Divine Providence

“The Lord brought an east wind; and, when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.” — Hxop. x. 13.

NE is inclined to ask, Why bring the east wind at all? God was about to send a special providence for the deliverance of His people from Egypt. He was about to inflict the Egyptians with a plague of locusts. The locusts were to be His special providence, the evidence of His supreme power. Why, then, does He not bring the locusts at once! Why evoke the intervention of an east wind! Wouid it not sound more majestic if it had simply been written, “God sent out a swarm of locusts created for the purpose of setting His people free”! Instead of that, the action of God takes the form of natural law, ‘The Lord brought an east wind; and, when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.” Why send His message in a common chariot when it might fly on heavenly wings! Is there not even something disappointing in the words “when it was morning”! Why should God’s act have been so long in working the cure! Is not the whole passage an encouragement of men to say, “Oh, it was all done by natural causes”! Yes — and to add, “All natural causes are Divine causes.” For, why is this passage written? It is just to tell us that when we see a Divine benefit coming through an east wind, or any other wind, we are not to say that on this account it comes less direct from God. It is just to tell us that when we ask God’s help we ought to expect that the answer will be sent through natural channels, through human channels. It is just to tell us that when the actual heavens are silent we are not to say that there is no voice from our Father. We are to seek the answer to our prayers, not in’ an opening of the sky, not in an angel’s wing, not in a mystic trance, but in the seeming accidents of every day — in the meeting with a friend, in the crossing of a street, in the hearing of a sermon, in the reading of a book, in the listening to a song, in the vision of a scene of beauty. We are to live in the solemn expectation that, any day of our lives, the things which environ us may become God’s

messengers.

Send me that solemn thought, O Lord! Let me look at the objects around me in the light of their possible mission! Let me remember that the most unlikely things may one day become Thy messengers! Let me remember that Job was answered at last out of the very whirlwind which seemed to preclude revelation! When I gaze on plant and tree, may I see them as Thine emissaries! When I touch a human hand, may I feel its Divine mission! When I pay a well-timed visit, let me say, “The Lord has sent me”! When I arrive at a critical moment, forbid that I should cry, “What a lucky chance!” let me claim the coincidence for Thee! Let me uncover my head to the meanest flower, to the most fugitive hour, to the most secular power! Let me reverence them in advance — for what they may bring to-morrow! May I forget not that even the east wind became Thy messenger! Help me in the prospect of to-morrow to bless life’s east winds! Help me to remember that the rejected stone may be the corner-stone! Help me to bear in mind that the cross may be the crown! Help me to realise that the tidings of Thy peace may come on the tempest’s bosom! Teach me that this world is not the veil, but the unveiling, of Thy presence! So shall I feel the sacredness of the common day.