Spurgeon: November PM
* 11/19/PM
"O that I knew where I might find Him!"
--Job 23:3
In Job's uttermost extremity he cried after the Lord. The
longing desire of an afflicted child of God is once more to see
his Father's face. His first prayer is not "O that I might be
healed of the disease which now festers in every part of my
body!" nor even "O that I might see my children restored from
the jaws of the grave, and my property once more brought from
the hand of the spoiler!" but the first and uppermost cry is, "O
that I knew where I might find HIM, who is my God! that I might
come even to His seat!" God's children run home when the storm
comes on. It is the heaven-born instinct of a gracious soul to
seek shelter from all ills beneath the wings of Jehovah. "He
that hath made his refuge God," might serve as the title of a
true believer. A hypocrite, when afflicted by God, resents the
infliction, and, like a slave, would run from the Master who has
scourged him; but not so the true heir of heaven, he kisses the
hand which smote him, and seeks shelter from the rod in the
bosom of the God who frowned upon him. Job's desire to commune
with God was intensified by the failure of all other sources of
consolation. The patriarch turned away from his sorry friends,
and looked up to the celestial throne, just as a traveller turns
from his empty skin bottle, and betakes himself with all speed
to the well. He bids farewell to earth-born hopes, and cries, "O
that I knew where I might find my God!" Nothing teaches us so
much the preciousness of the Creator, as when we learn the
emptiness of all besides. Turning away with bitter scorn from
earth's hives, where we find no honey, but many sharp stings, we
rejoice in Him whose faithful word is sweeter than honey or the
honeycomb. In every trouble we should first seek to realize
God's presence with us. Only let us enjoy His smile, and we can
bear our daily cross with a willing heart for His dear sake.