Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you… I. Notice the frank and matter-of-course way in which your AFFLICTIONS AND TRIALS are mentioned. "The waters," "the rivers," "the fire," "the flame"; it takes it for granted that you will meet with some or all of them before you have finished your course, and they are mentioned in a way, too, that will not suffer you to think lightly of them. "Waters," many of them, and may be deep; "rivers," rushing calamities that threaten to carry you away; "fire and flame!" hard words these, and I gather that your tribulations, Jacob, are great, various, and sure. II. But the words, "When thou passest," — "And when thou walkest," clearly intimate that JACOB IS TRAVELLING, MOVING FROM ONE POINT TO ANOTHER. We may be quite sure that the "waters," "rivers," "fire," "flame" we read of:here have reference only to such of them as are met with on Jacob's proper track. If these perilous possibilities do not confront him on the way of duty; and if he makes a voluntary circumbendibus, to serve only his own pleasure, so that he confronts them; then, such waters and such fires are very likely to destroy him. Lot goes and settles down in Sodom; he had no more business there than has flour in a soot-bag; and the fire burnt him. The waters overflowed Jonah to some purpose; but that was because he went where he liked, and not where he ought. III. Not only shall Jacob be safe in the flood, and brought through the fire; not only shall both flood and fire become vanquished perils living only in the victor's memory, but THE PASSING THROUGH THEM SHALL DO GOOD TO JACOB! He shall be a nobler soul for being tossed by waves; he shall be a purer being for being tried by fire, and like the finely tempered steel which was first in the red-hot furnace, and was then plunged into the ice-cold cistern, and so became the keen, invincible blade: so the trial, afflictions, testings of the Christian do mould and temper and shape and brighten Jacob's character, and ennoble after the Christly pattern his moral manhood, which is the glory of his immortal soul! Note two things to be remembered in the day of the flood and fire. 1. Thy God has promised to be ever at thy side. 2. This gracious God, who controls the waters and restrains the fires end conducts His people through them both, reveals Himself here as "the Lord that created thee, O Jacob; and He that formed thee, O Israel." He made thee, O Jacob; then He knows thee, knows thy frame; remembereth that thou art dust, — will not put upon thee more than thou canst bear, neither will He forsake the work of His hands. He raised us from the ruins of the fall, made us temples for Himself to dwell in. Then He will never suffer the structures He has erected at so much care and cost to be thrown down by violence, swept away by turbulent waters, or devoured by the ruthless flame. "Thou art mine!" He says. It is the language of complacency and delight. Thou art mine! My property! My charge! My joy! My jewel! And I will guard My own! Surely with such a text as this to fall back upon, O thou redeemed one, thou wilt not doubt or fear. (J. J. Wray.) Parallel Verses KJV: When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. |
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