Presence and Rest

My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest,” — ExoD. xxxiii. 14.

Moses asked to be shewn “the way.” Here is the answer: — The way is not shewn — but better than this, God says, “Trust Me” — “I will go with thee I”

Afflicted one I hear the voice addressing thee from the cloudy pillar. It is a wilderness promise which “the God of Jeshurun” speaks to his sjDiritual Israel still. He who led his people of old “like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron,” will manifest towards thee the same Shepherd-love. The way may be very different from what we could have wished; — what we would have chosen. But the choice is in better hands. He has his own wise and righteous ends in every devious turning in it.

Wbo can look back on the past leadings of God without gratitude and thankfulness? When His sheep have been conducted to the rougher parts of the wilderness, He, their Shepherd, has ‘’gone before them.” “When their fleeces we retorn, and they foot-sore and wearj, He has borne them in His arms. His presence has lightened every cross and sweetened every care. Let us trust Him for an unknown and chequered future. Other companionships we cherished may have failed us, but ONE who is better than the best, goes before us in His gracious Pillar-cloud. With Him for our portion, take what He will away, we must be happy; we can rise above the loss of the earthly gift, in the consciousness of the nobler possession and heritage we enjoy in the Great Bestower. He may have seen meet to level clay idols, that He, the All-Satisfying, might reign paramount and supreme. He may have seen meet to take earthly” presences“’ away to give us more of His own, and to lead us to breathe more earnestly the prayer;” If THY presence go not vvitli US, carry us not hence.” He will not suffer us to rear tabernacles on earth, and to write upon them, “This is my rest ‘No I Tenting time here — resting time yonder, But ‘’Fear not,” He seems to say, thou art not left unbefriended or unsolaced on the way Pilgrim in a pilgrim land I ’ my presence shall go with thee.’ In all thy dark and cloudy days — in thy hours of faintness and depression — in sadness and in sorrow — in loneliness and solitude — in life and in death I And when the journey is ended, the Pillar needed no more, — ’ / will give thee rest. “‘The earnest of Grace will be followed with the fruition of glory!