Oct 15
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“And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees; and they encamped there by the waters.” Exodus 15:27
A great wilderness lay between Israel and Canaan; a vast unfriendly, harsh land that stretched out before them across which they could not survive without the presence and power of God. This wilderness is in figure a picture of this world. What they experienced physically all believers experience spiritually. Spiritually there is nothing in this world to sustain, nourish, or preserve the child of God. Everything he needs must be supplied of God and come to him by sovereign irresistible grace. It is exactly the harsh environment of this wilderness that brings to the believer’s heart the sweet experience of grace. Elim offers nothing to the intellectual; just palm trees and wells. Elim offers nothing to the mystic; its waters and trees were just waters and trees. But, oh, to the man whose tongue cleaved to the roof of his mouth, to the sojourner whose back had been burnt under that blazing son; to him those seventy palms and twelve wells was nearly Canaan itself. Looking at Elim as a place of refreshing in the wilderness I see it manifest in figure three ways.
First, I see this blessed place of rest in the wilderness represented in Christ. “Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11: 28) It is Christ himself who is our rest. It is his blessed person that refreshes the heart and satisfies the soul.
Secondly, Elim and its refreshing wells are represented to us in this gospel age as the local church. God’s church is the pillar and ground of the truth. He has put them strategically so that all who journey through this wilderness, on their way to Canaan, are sure to drink from its wells and rest in its shade.
Thirdly, Elim is represented is our day by the regenerating, renewing, and converting work of the Holy Spirit of God. All of the refreshing waters of Christ are drawn up for us by his presence and power.
It is the wilderness experience that makes Elim’s water so precious. Never till we are weary and heavy laden will we appreciate Elim’s rest. Thank God for dry sand and deep wells. – Darvin Pruitt
| I am with you always
“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, The Divine presence is . . . The blessed assurance, “I am with you,” is sufficient to Reader, be anxious to possess an abiding consciousness “Be sure of this: I am with you always, even to |
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If God had not helped us!
“I was pushed back and about to fall — but the Lord helped me!” Psalm 118:13 The psalmist had been reviewing his toils, his trials, and his dangers; he commemorates his deliverances, his conquests, and his triumphs; and he ascribes the whole, to the help of God! If God had not helped him — his faith would have failed, his expectations would have been disappointed, and his foes would have prevailed. Through the Lord, he did valiantly; and now, with joyful heart, he records the loving-kindness of the Lord. How sweet to look back upon the rough road, the bloody battle-field, the scenes of peculiar trial. Then, if ever, gratitude will work within us, and praises will flow from our tongues and hearts. Delivered from the mouth of the lion, and the paw of the bear — we thankfully acknowledge, “The Lord helped me!” In looking back we see that we have needed help — and more help than any mere creature could afford us! The daily cross, If God had not helped us . . . God alone knows what would have been the result — if we had been left to our own resources. We needed help in infancy, in youth, in manhood. We needed help in prosperity — and in adversity! We needed help in temporals — and spirituals. We found our own strength — to be weakness, and our own wisdom — to be folly. The feeblest of our foes — would have been more than a match for us! The least corruption in our hearts — would have overcome us! And we need help now — as much as we ever did; for, unless the Lord helps us . . . The Lord has promised help. He has said, “Fear not — for I am with you; be not dismayed — for I am your God! I will strengthen you; yes, I will help you; yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness!” And because His people feel themselves to be vile, weak, and incompetent; He stoops to speak to them according to their own views of themselves and says, “Do not be afraid, O worm Jacob, O little Israel — for I Myself will help you! declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel!” Oh, precious promise, of a good and gracious God! Yes, the strength of Jesus has been perfected in our weakness! We have found His grace to be sufficient for us; and to the praise of His glorious grace, in reference to all our trials, troubles, and conflicts — we can truly say, “The Lord helped me!” Oh, beloved, it is an unspeakable mercy to have God for our helper! James Smith |
| All trials, all temptations, all strippings, all emptyings The very trials and afflictions, and the sore And depend upon it, if you are a child of God, There will be such things in your heart, and such This a great point to come to. All trials, all But the convictions, the trials, the temptations, |
Your present adversity
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28
It is palpably clear and emphatically true, that all that occurs in the Lord’s government of His people conspires for, and works out, and results in, their highest happiness and their greatest good. The gloomiest and most painful circumstances in the history of the child of God, without a solitary exception — are all conspiring, and all working together, for his real and permanent good.
The painful and inexplicable dispensations, which at the present moment may be thickening and deepening around your path, are but so many mysteries in God’s government, which He is working out to their certain, satisfactory, and happy results. And when the good thus embosomed in the lowering cloud of some crushing providence, accomplishes its benevolent and heaven-sent mission, then trial will expand its dark pinions and fly away — and sorrow will roll up its somber drapery and disappear!
All things, under the government of an infinitely great, all-wise, righteous, and beneficent Lord God, work together for good. What that good may be — the shape it may assume — the complexion it may wear — the end to which it may be subservient — we cannot tell. To our dim view it may appear an evil — but to God’s far seeing eye it is a positive good. Oh, truth most divine! Oh, words most consolatory!
How many whose eye traces this page, it may be whose tears bedew it, whose sighs breathe over it, whose prayers hallow it — may be wading in deep waters, may be drinking bitter cups, and are ready to exclaim, “All these things are against me!” Oh no, beloved of God — all these things are for you! Do not be afraid! Christ restrains the flood upon whose heaving bosom He serenely sits. Christ controls the waters, whose sounding waves obey the mandate of His voice. Christ’s cloudy chariot is paved with love! Then, fear not! Your Father grasps the helm of your storm-tossed vessel — and through cloud and tempest, will steer it safely to the port of endless rest!
Will it not be a real good, if your present adversity results . . .
in the dethronement of some worshiped idol?
in the endearing of Christ to your soul?
in the closer conformity of your mind to God’s image?
in the purification of your heart?
in your more thorough fitness for heaven?
in a revival of God’s work within you?
in stirring you up to more prayer?
in enlarging your heart to all that love the same Savior?
in stimulating you to increased activity for the conversion of sinners, for the diffusion of the truth, and for the glory of God?
Oh yes! good, real good, permanent good must result from all the Divine dispensations in your history.
Bitter repentance, shall end in the experienced sweetness of Christ’s love.
The festering wound, shall but elicit the healing balm.
The overpowering burden, shall but bring you to the tranquil rest.
The storm, shall but quicken your footsteps to the Hiding Place.
The bitter-cold north wind and the balmy south wind, shall breathe together over your garden — and the spices shall flow out.
In a little while — oh, how soon! you shall pass away from earth to heaven, and in its clearer, serener light shall read the truth, often read with tears before, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Octavious Winslow