August 3

We are journeying unto the place of which the Lord said, I will give it you. - Numbers 10:29.

Let us view the Christian as a traveller, for so he is; and then he says, “I will go in the strength of the Lord God,” to pursue my journey, and to hold on my way to the end. Dr. Watts has finely seized upon this in his version of our text:-

“My feet shall travel all the way,

Of the celestial road;

And march with courage in thy strength,

To meet my Saviour-God.”

The journey of Jacob was a trying one; the journey of the Israelites through the wilderness was a trying journey, and “the souls of the people were much discouraged because of the way.” It is the same with Christians now, but it ought not to be so, it is very true, as we sometimes sing:-

“True, ’tis a strait, a thorny road,

And mortal spirits tire and faint;

But they forget the mighty God,

That feeds the strength of every saint.”

He hath said, “I will be with thee in all places whither thou goest.” “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

“God is our strength, and through the road

We lean upon our helper, God.”

And we cannot lean too much, we cannot lean too hard, upon him. His arm can sustain us. We know not what lies before us; we know not what a day may bring forth: nor is this knowledge necessary or desirable; it can bring nothing with it; but he will bear us through. But, says the Christian, “Jordan lies between me and the promised land. I stand by it, and see its dark cold waters rolling along, and I am chilled and terrified. How shall I get over? How shall I reach my journey’s end? How shall I arrive at the land flowing with milk and honey?” Why, in the same way. He will be with you then; he will make a dry-shod passage for you, as he did for Joshua. Or if not, and the waters come up to your neck, like Bunyan’s Christian, your feet shall feel the bottom, and your eyes shall see the shining ones at the other side, ready to escort you to the celestial city; and so shall you be forever with the Lord.”