But the choice is in better hands.
By John Macduff, my presence shall go with you, and I will
give you rest. Exodus chapter 33 verse 14. Moses asked to be shown the way.
The way is not shown, but better than this, God says, trust me,
I will go with you. Afflicted one, hear this wilderness
promise which God speaks to His spiritual Israel still. He who
led His people of old like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron
will manifest towards you the same shepherd love. The way may
be very different from what we would have wished and what we
would have chosen, but the choice is in better hands. God had his
own wise and righteous ends in every erratic turning in the
wilderness wanderings. Just so, who 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 been with them. When their fleece
was torn and they were footsore and weary, 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 checkered future. 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 which we enjoy in the Great Bestower.
He may have seen fit to level clay idols, that He, the All-Satisfying
One might reign paramount and supreme. He will not allow us
to raise havens on earth and to write upon them. This is my
rest. But fear not, he seems to say,
you are not left without a friend or without solace on the way
home. Pilgrim in a pilgrim land, my presence shall go with you
in all your dark and cloudy days, in your hours of faintness and
depression, in all your sickness and sadness, in life and in death. And when the journey is ended,
I will give you eternal rest with me. The pledge of grace
will be followed with the fruition of glory. My presence shall go
with you, and I will give you rest. Exodus chapter 33 verse
14.