Spurgeon: June PM
* 06/28/PM
"But Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods."
--Exodus 7:12
This incident is an instructive emblem of the sure victory of
the divine handiwork over all opposition. Whenever a divine
principle is cast into the heart, though the devil may fashion a
counterfeit, and produce swarms of opponents, as sure as ever
God is in the work, it will swallow up all its foes. If God's
grace takes possession of a man, the world's magicians may throw
down all their rods; and every rod may be as cunning and
poisonous as a serpent, but Aaron's rod will swallow up their
rods. The sweet attractions of the cross will woo and win the
man's heart, and he who lived only for this deceitful earth will
now have an eye for the upper spheres, and a wing to mount into
celestial heights. When grace has won the day the worldling
seeks the world to come. The same fact is to be observed in the
life of the believer. What multitudes of foes has our faith had
to meet! Our old sins--the devil threw them down before us, and
they turned to serpents. What hosts of them! Ah, but the cross
of Jesus destroys them all. Faith in Christ makes short work of
all our sins. Then the devil has launched forth another host of
serpents in the form of worldly trials, temptations, unbelief;
but faith in Jesus is more than a match for them, and overcomes
them all. The same absorbing principle shines in the faithful
service of God! With an enthusiastic love for Jesus difficulties
are surmounted, sacrifices become pleasures, sufferings are
honours. But if religion is thus a consuming passion in the
heart, then it follows that there are many persons who profess
religion but have it not; for what they have will not bear this
test. Examine yourself, my reader, on this point. Aaron's rod
proved its heaven-given power. Is your religion doing so? If
Christ be anything He must be everything. O rest not till love
and faith in Jesus be the master passions of your soul!