May the Lord graciously be with
and bless us this morning as we meditate in his holy word.
Let us turn to the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 32, and we'll read verses
9 and 10. The book of Deuteronomy, chapter
32, and reading verses 9 and 10. for the Lord's portion is his
people. Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. He found him in a desert land
and in a waste howling wilderness. He led him about, he instructed
him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. We've just sung a hymn which
speaks to us about the election of Almighty God. It's a doctrine
which many people don't like to think about and don't like
to accept. And yet as we read through the
Word of God, it is a very wonderful and a very blessed truth. And
we should therefore recognise the wonder of it. And perhaps
there is no clearer picture of that position than the case of
Esau and Jacob. And we should realise that God
is a just God. And sometimes people rebel against
the truth, but we should realise that, as the Word of God tells
us, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. And
what that means is that every one of us does not deserve any
mercy, does not deserve any favor. We've all sinned. And because
we've all sinned, our position is that we are dead in trespasses
and in sins. That means we have no spiritual
life. And therefore we need and must
have God to give us that spiritual life and when we understand that
great and glorious truth then you see you and I won't start
picking holes in God's great plan of salvation if the Lord
has wonderfully and graciously looked upon us and called us not for anything
good in ourselves but given us the wonderful blessing of spiritual
life. And we have this example of Esau
and Jacob, and the Word of God tells us, Esau, Jacob have I
loved, but Esau have I hated. And that's a very solemn truth,
isn't it? But come back to what I've said, all have sinned, and
come short of the glory of God, that none of us deserve to be
saved. We all deserve to perish in our
sins because we have sinned. We all stand guilty before a
holy God, so we are utterly dependent upon the mercy and the grace
and favour of Almighty God. Well, no doubt we're reasonably
familiar with the life of Jacob. As you probably know, Esau and
Jacob were twins. Esau was the firstborn and then
Jacob. And we see how they grew up and
we see how they lived their life and we see how God was very gracious
to Jacob. And that's why we have these
verses. Moses recounting really the position
and it tells us for the Lord's portion is his people and by
itself that is a wonderful statement to think that the Lord's portion
is his people and therefore how glorious it is if you and I have
the evidence that we are the Lord's portion that he has chosen
us that he's called us by his grace and therefore one day we
shall be with him in glory eternally. See that's the prospect for those
who are called, those who are chosen. Eternal happiness with
the Saviour, with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy
Spirit and the whole church of God eternally. It's a wonderful
thought and a wonderful consideration. So the God's servant Moses in
this song, and it's a very instructive song. I hope you took it in as
we read it this morning. Great truths it contains. For
the Lord's portion is his people. Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. I think that we are God's inheritance. Those who he has chosen before
time began. And as the Word of God tells
us, The Lord Jesus tells us, you have not chosen me, but I
have chosen you and ordained you that you should go and bring
forth fruit and that your fruit should remain. So it is in those
words, and you can read them in the 15th of John, it's a very
certain position. It's a very wonderful position,
but if we are chosen, the evidence of that choosing would be that
we shall be fruitful in the things of God and that fruit will honour
and glorify our God. Because our life on this earth
is not to please ourselves, it's not to wander around this world
doing this and doing that and just to satisfy ourselves. We
are here on this earth to bring honour and glory to God. Well that's a wonderful truth
and a wonderful statement and it's a great blessing if that
is true of each one of us. So here we have this statement. The Lord's portion is his people.
Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. And if you trace out the life
of Jacob as displayed in the Word of God, it's quite an amazing
life really. And we see how the Lord was with
him and it starts off really when he was deceitful, deceived
his father, pretended to be Esau. And we think, well, surely the
Lord would cut him off from that, for that. Well, no. We see the
Lord's mercy. We see the Lord's grace. And
what a blessing it is to realize that the Lord was with Jacob.
And then as we see Jacob journeying off, going to find a wife, we
see how the Lord met with him in the wilderness. That land
where they were wasn't a very pleasant land. It was pretty
sandy and pretty barren. And yet, you see, God was with
him. And as you may follow that, we won't go through it this morning,
follow Jacob's life. For all those years when he was
away from his father and mother and his brother, yes, God was
with him and directed him. It wasn't an easy life. No, he
was not dealt with very well. But nonetheless, God was with
him. God was watching over him. God
was directing him. And God was instructing him. God was instructing him. That's
why we have in this next verse, this statement, the 10th verse,
he found him in a desert land and in a wasteland wilderness.
He led him about, he instructed him and he kept him as the apple
of his eye. That was true of Jacob. And we can humbly say it is true of every child of
God. And that's a great blessing.
If perhaps we just stop and think
about it, think about it with regard to our own life, Because
that's what is a concern, a hope to each one of us. That we are
right with God. We have to die. We can't die
for anybody else and no one else can die for us. We have to die. We have to pass out of time into
eternity. We have to be found either in
heaven or in hell. And how needful therefore it
is that we are blessed with this personal evidence, indeed, that
the Lord has found us. Well, many people in the world
today wander on aimlessly. They know not God. They're not
the mercy of God. They're not concerned about it.
They may perhaps be concerned just in a very casual way, but
not in that way which produces a real prayer, God be merciful
to me, a sinner. What a great blessing it is.
Therefore, if indeed God does find us, because God knows where
we are. God knows that you and I are
here this morning in this chapel. He knows exactly where we're
going to be tonight. He knows where we're going to
be tomorrow. He knows where we are every moment of our life.
And he also knows all about us. He knows what is prepared for
us. good and bad. He knows what instruction we'll
receive. He knows what direction we'll
be given. It's all known to this great
and wonderful God. But the wonderful blessing is
if you and I have this personal evidence in our heart that this
great God, and let us have a right view of this great God, So powerful,
so mighty, spoke the world into being. Yes, is in control of
absolutely everything. And yet, although you might say
he's so busy, and to come back to a very salient point, he knows
where all our hairs are going and falling down, for every one
of us in the world. What a God we have. What a great
and powerful God. And then to think that that great
God finds us and comes to us and calls us and gives us the
wonderful gift of eternal life. Well Moses is
able to give an account here of Jacob and he tells us he was
found. It was a desert land and it was
a waste town in wilderness. And you may say well of course
that was just Jacob's position. Well it was his position of course.
Perhaps you and I think, well we're not in a desert land, we're
not in a waste town in wilderness. Well in one sense we are. You
may ask me, well why are we? Well because to the true believer
this world is a barren place. This world is not our home. This world is not our rest. You and I, if we are a believer,
are travelling through this world. Now the devil wants you and me
to make this world our home. He wants us to be here, rest
here, and be content with everything here, and not be concerned about
the life to come. And how many, many people are
in that position. Well, how great is this God.
if He, in His lovely and amazing favour and mercy toward us, has
given us to know that He's found us. We haven't been left to just
wander on aimlessly through this life, fulfilling the lusts of
the flesh and desires of our heart, but He, by His grace,
has set our hearts and our affections upon things above. and not on
things on the earth you see if that is so that is an evidence
that this gracious God has found us has found us as he found Jacob
as he's found all the people of God yes he knows and I've
said where we are and what a mercy therefore to have this wonderful
understanding this great God it's condescending it is amazing
condescension to look upon an utterly unworthy
sinner now you may say well I don't think that's true of me I think
I'm pretty worthy I do this and I do that well when the Spirit
of God works in our hearts we're brought to that position not
always immediately And we're brought to that position. This
Word of God tells us, in me, that is, in my flesh, as Paul
said when he wrote to the Romans, that dwelleth no good thing.
No, we're sinful. We're an alien. We're an enemy
to God. And therefore, why should God
take any notice of us? Why should he not pass us by?
Why should he not throw us on the rubbish heap of something
of no value? Well, when the Holy Spirit touches
our heart, we will realise that we are of no value in and of
ourselves, but we are of value to God. We come and recognise
what the hymn writer says when he wrote What was there in me
to merit, esteem, or give my Creator delight? Left to ourselves,
by nature, there was nothing. But you see, to realize that
we are partakers of the grace of God, that free, unmerited
favor, and to be able to then bless God that He has found us,
Well, my friends, this morning all of us have to stand before
God, don't we? We all have to answer before
God. We don't have to answer to our fellow beings. We have
to answer before God. Has the Lord found us? Has he found us in this world,
in this desert land and the wasteland and wilderness? Well, it's a
great blessing if he has. And if he has, It's because He's
loved us with an everlasting love. Because He's looked upon
us, because we were chosen in Him before the foundation of
the world. Stand amazed at such a favour. You think of
the millions who have never been found, who never truly repented
of their sin, have never truly prayed for mercy. They continue
in this sinful world, blind and deaf. What a great blessing it
is that this morning If we can trace out, surely the word of
God is for our encouragement because it traces out to us his
great and glorious plan. And here is that great and glorious
plan set before us in the word of God. As the apostle Peter
in his first letter, first epistle, he says, ye are A chosen generation. The whole family of God. A chosen
generation. We didn't, as it were, suddenly
come and suddenly wake up, as it were, in and of ourselves.
It's only because we are a chosen generation. And the apostle goes
on to say, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood. Children
of the King. The King of Kings. You know,
people, perhaps you might think, oh, it would be wonderful if
I was a child of King Charles. You know, I could enjoy all the
wonderful benefits that they have and the enjoyment of life. But that's passing. It doesn't
bring any real joy with it, as you, I'm sure, can recognize
as you see the lives of some of the royal family being displayed. Perhaps, you see, if we are one
of these of a royal priesthood, it means to be a child of God,
a child of God, chosen in him before time began. You are a
chosen generation, a royal priesthood, And of course, it doesn't say
a royal child. It says a royal priesthood. And what did priests do? Priests
served the Lord. And that's what the children
of God are called to do. They're called to serve the Lord. Naturally, we may not want to
do things sometimes, but in serving the King of Kings, That's a wonderful
privilege, isn't it? That's a wonderful blessing.
Because we have a God. And that great God, indeed, who
has chosen us. He hasn't passed us by. He stopped
at our door, as it were. And knocked. And caused us to
open that door of our heart. To seek unto Him. a royal priesthood,
a holy nation. God's people are a holy people. A holy people, that's a very
wonderful truth, isn't it? To think that God has made us
a holy nation. It's a godly nation. It is a
nation of God's people. A people who are being called.
who have been chosen and will spend eternity in glory and merely
says these people are a peculiar people well that's helpful isn't
it really because sometimes we may feel rather peculiar in this
world because we can't enter into all the things that the
people of the world enter into and seem to enjoy. No, we are,
don't forget, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
and therefore, because of these things, we are peculiar, peculiar. We're chosen of God. The majority
of mankind is not chosen of God. See then why it's a great blessing
to be this peculiar people. And then the Apostle says, and
this is important, that ye should show forth the praises of him
who has called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. What
a wonderful privilege it is to be found amongst those who are
this chosen generation. Well, this is just what Jacob
was. And as the Lord says through
Moses, he found him in a desert land and in a wasteland wilderness. He led him about. Yes, God led
Jacob about. And I'm sure if you're familiar
with the account of Jacob in Deuteronomy, but also, of course,
in Genesis, you can read about Jacob and how the Lord led him
about. God leads his people about today. what a mercy, as an evidence
that you and I are the Lord's portion, to know that His hand
is upon us. And it's like this, you're not
your own, you are bought with a price. And just for a moment
consider the price of your and my salvation. It wasn't something
that is tangible to our natural mind. The ransom for our salvation
wasn't in gold or silver or money. The price paid for our ransom
was much more valuable than that. It was, of course, the precious
blood of Christ. You're not your own. You're bought
with a price. Just think of that for a moment. Jesus, the eternal son of God,
dying upon that cross at Calvary in order to pay the price so
that all our sins should be forever washed away. That's the cost. which was paid. What a mercy
then to realise that we're being led about by the Spirit of God. We're not our own. We're not
our own. And what a blessing it is when
we're content and, well, perhaps more than that, desirous that
the Holy Spirit will lead us, will direct us in our life, in
our life, you know you young people at school do you desire
the Lord will lead you at school? lead you perhaps as you get older
as to what subjects to take perhaps for your exams, your A-levels
and then perhaps if you go to university the subjects to take to be led by the Spirit of God. And then
perhaps after that to get work, to be led by the Spirit of God. You hear
what's told here. He, Jacob, he led him about. The Lord God led Jacob about. And my friends, God still today
leads people about what a mercy that is to realize that we have
a God who is in control of our life see it's a great blessing
to know that God is in control because it gives us comfort it
gives us peace to know the way I take cannot be wrong if Jesus
be but there we don't want to go into a place we don't want
to do anything if Jesus is not there well here's this picture
of Jacob before us he was led about he led him about strange
path wasn't it? Jacob was led about very strange,
but God was with him and God greatly blessed him. And we have
a picture of what we know he was wonderfully blessed spiritually,
but we have the physical side also. He was blessed naturally
to encourage us to realize that God is in control of everything
in our lives. And although perhaps things may
appear to be going in the wrong direction, God knows what he's
doing. Yes, and it's good therefore
to be able to commit our way unto the Lord. Trust also in
him and he will bring it to pass. The things which are impossible
with man are possible with God. That's a great encouragement,
surely is it not to us? and so here he was led him about
and instructed him how condescending of God to look
upon us individually and to instruct us that means really to teach
us isn't it to be taught by God what a mercy isn't it we have
teachers don't we? we have lecturers naturally to
teach us things and instruct us but to think that there is
a great God the almighty God who instructs his people and
teaches them and directs them in the way that they should go
Yes, it's a mercy, isn't it, to have such a God who instructs
us. Well, I wonder if we can trace
out God's instruction. Perhaps there were things that
we couldn't understand. No doubt there are things that
we couldn't understand. Perhaps there are things that
we can't understand, perhaps in our natural life. Well, don't
forget, that we read in the 107th Psalm, this great truth, He,
Almighty God, led them forth by the right way that they might
go to a city of habitation. naturally that was true naturally
it's true in our lives spiritually it was true spiritually it's
true in our lives if we are amongst those who the Lord has wonderfully
found to be instructed by him none teacheth like him if you
are not sure of things and not sure what to do or what to think,
search the Word of God. Wait on the Lord. Pray to Him. He will answer. He will direct. But let me just give this word
a warning. It may not be in the way that you want. It may not
be to the time scale that you want. But do remember, as I've
said, He will lead you about, lead you in the right way, because
God doesn't make mistakes. You and I make mistakes. We see
something, we think it's a good idea, it looks very pleasant,
and we go after it. Perhaps the Lord allows us sometimes
to make mistakes, to show us how foolish we were, And yet
what a blessing it is to have the evidence that God has led
us and that God is instructing us. Instructing us. Because none teacheth like him. You know, it's good, we mustn't
decry teaching spiritually for the preaching of the word, but
let us not forget, none teacheth like him. he is a glorious and
blessed teacher and he teaches us at the right pace he teaches
us at the pace that you and I can understand yes he leads us on
gently he doesn't drive us he's so kind and so gracious you see
naturally people sometimes get impatient my friends we have
a God who is patient and gracious and he cares for our soul. And
therefore he looks after us and therefore he will deal with us
in this right way by instructing us. And then we read, and he
kept him as the apple of his eye. The apple means really the
pupil, the pupil, the most sensitive and important part of the eye. Now, I'm not a biologist, but
the eye is a very wonderful item in our anatomy, I'm sure you
realise. It's amazing, isn't it, how the eye transmits things
to our brain instantly, so we realise what to do and how to
react. And the eye is wonderfully formed
and wonderfully looked after. If you think how the eye is formed,
it's in a strong bony socket. And then we have eyebrows and
eyelashes to actually protect it. There's so much protection
God has given to our eye. And so we have this illustration
which is very beneficial for us to think of. So you think
of the complexity of the eye and how it's been designed by
the great and glorious creator, the Lord God, and we have the
illustration here. We are kept as the apple of his
eye. Yes, it's very safe and it's
looked after. wonderfully and so we have a
God, a gracious God who does indeed look after us so wonderfully. Well I trust this morning we
appreciate this great blessing and this great truth. This was
addressed of course to Israel by Moses The Song of Moses, you
may realize that the Book of Deuteronomy is really an account
that Moses gave to Israel and tracing back how the Lord had
been with them and how the Lord had directed them, and how they
turned their back upon God, and how he'd be merciful to them,
and how he blessed them. And then as he comes down right
towards the end, therefore, we have this song, a song of Moses. And it's wonderful that it's
recorded there for us today. And as the God's servant said
in the third verse, because I will publish the name of the Lord,
ascribing greatness unto our God. Well, this morning, my friends,
I hope we can ascribe greatness to our God. Greatness to our
God. Greatness for his mercy toward
us. Greatness of his amazing and
wonderful love toward us. Yes, his favour toward us and
watching over us ever since we were born. And what a mercy to
be able to trace out. And again, I hope we can in our
spiritual life to realize that we are sons and daughters of
the Most High God. We don't come to chapel just
to waste our time. We don't come just to pass our
time. But we come, I trust, to hear
what God the Lord will speak to our souls. So that we have
some spiritual food for our appetite. Spiritual food, spiritual drink. And realise what a merciful God
we have. And not to forget how good God
is, how kind He is, And to come back to what I've said already,
He paid that great sacrifice upon Calvary's cross to redeem
your and my soul. My friends, if we perhaps become... So you might think, well, I don't
think this is true. Go to Calvary. Go to Calvary
and see there the suffering Saviour. suffering all-incarnate God could
bear with strength enough and none to spare. And why? To redeem our souls. Just think of that. So that by
that redemption we are complete in Him, we are made clean, we
are washed in the precious blood of the Lamb and therefore by
His grace one day we shall be with him in glory forever. Don't lose sight of that. Time
will pass away. Eternity will not. And may we
therefore have the wonderful evidence that as we have this
account, a picture of Jacob, to be able to say humbly and
truthfully What is spoken here of Jacob, by the glorious grace
of God, is spoken about me. For the Lord's portion is his
people. Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.
He found him in a desert land. He found me, I hope we can say,
in a desert land, and in the wasteland in wilderness. He led
me about, He instructed me and He kept me as the apple of His
eye. Amen.