And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;
— Genesis 41:30
Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house;
— Psalm 45:10
For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.
— Isaiah 57:16
For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
— Psalm 30:5
Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;
— Psalm 30:11
That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.
— Isaiah 65:16
And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
— Matthew 8:26
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
— Matthew 17:20
How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
— Matthew 18:12
All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
— John 6:37
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
— Matthew 13:44
God Has Made Me to Forget, by Charles Haddon Spurgeon.The following contains excerpts from his sermons.
And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house.
— Genesis 41:51 b-d
Do you feel marked for sorrow? Are you the target of the arrows of affliction? Are you punished more than others? Do not sorrow. The arrows of affliction are sent by covenant love to prepare you for a special work that will yield a great blessing from your heavenly father. The day will come when you’ll be grateful for every blow. Even grateful for the bitter pangs of unkindness from friends. Joseph’s brothers hated him, Genesis 37:4. And they sold him into slavery, Genesis 37:28. The archers have bitterly grieved him, shot at him, and hated him, Genesis 49:23. Yet, see the reward.
For Joseph had exclusive blessings, his bow remained in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob. The abundance of God’s revelation is usually accompanied by a thorn in the flesh. Grief not withstanding the world be born to you as there was to Joseph, a Manasseh—for God will make you forget all your labor. And there will be an Ephraim—for God will make you fruitful in the land of your affliction.” Genesis 41:51-52. Instructed by affliction, you will become a comforter to the afflicted. All are against me, Genesis 42:36. When wracked with physical pain, we need the comforter.
Some pain can be endured, but the sharp fangs of certain pains push into the marrow of our nature and horribly bore their way through the brain and the spirit. For such pains, much grace is needed. When your head throbs, when your heart palpitates, when your system is upset, it is natural to say with Jacob—all thee things are against me. We complain of providence, but this is the time to apply the promise with power. Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand, Isaiah 41:10. When pain gives every sign of increasing, when we wait for the surgeon with his dreaded knife, if we are to be sustained under suffering, which makes the flesh shudder.
We need the upholding gentleness of God—fear not, for I am with you. This promise, like the nightingale’s song, is most sweet when heard in the night season.
Lay aside for a time, Exodus 3:1. This is counsel for you who are temporarily laid on the shelf. Some of God’s best workers have been laid aside for long periods. Moses was 40 years in the desert, doing nothing but tending sheep. One greater than Moses, our blessed savior, with 30 years doing. I will not say nothing but certainly doing no public work. When you are retired or inactive, prepare for the time when God will again use you. If you are put on a shelf, do not rust. Pray that the Master will polish you so that when he uses you again, you will be fully ready for the work, while you are laid aside. I want you to pray for others that are working. Help them and encourage them. Do not get into that peevish miserable frame of spirit that grudges and undervalues others’ efforts. Some people, when they cannot do anything, do not like anybody else to work. Promise that if you cannot help, you will never hinder. Spend time in prayer that you may be fit for the Master’s use.
At the siege of Gibraltar, when the fleet surrounded it, and determined to storm the Old Rock, the Governor fired red-hot shot down on the men of war. The enemy did not care for the Governor’s warm reception. Think how it was done. Here were gunners on the ramparts firing away, and every garrison soldier wanted to join them. What did those who could not fire a gun do? They heeded the shot. And that is what you must do. Your pastor is a master gunner. So heat a shot for him. Keep the furnace going, so that when the sermon is fired off, it will be read hot because of your earnest prayers. When you see your friends sitting in Sunday School or standing in the street working for God, if you cannot join them, say, never mind, if I can contribute nothing else, my prayers will heat the shot.
A still small voice, 1 Kings 19:12. In our religious services, we too often rely on carnal force and energy. We hope that if we make enough noise, create enough excitement and stir and agitate, we will be identified with the power of God.
How does God touch our hearts? Our Heavenly Father generally uses a soft, tender, gentle, quiet, calm and peaceful, still small voice. Softly and gently, the Holy Spirit works like the breath of spring dissolving icebergs and melting glaciers. After winter has taken every stream by the throat and held it fast, spring sets it free. No hammer or file is heard as the icy bonds fall off. Only the soft south wind blows, and all is life and liberty. So it is with the work of the Holy Spirit when he comes into the soul. He can be a mighty rushing wind, Acts 2:2, for he comes according to his own sovereign pleasure. Yet when he brings a peace of God, he usually descends as a dove, Matthew 3:16. Or as a dew from heaven, all peace, all gentle and all quiet. Satan can set the soul on fire with agony, doubt, fear and terror. Then the Spirit comes in with tender love, and reveals Christ, the gentle one. He sets up the Savior’s cross and speaks peace, pardon and salvation. This is what we want and need, the work of the Spirit of God coming in His own manner of living love.
He made the iron float, 2 Kings 6:6. The borrowed axe-head was hopelessly lost underwater. The honor of the prophetic band would threaten because the name of their God would be compromised. Against all expectations, the iron rose from the stream’s bed and floated. The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” Luke 18:27.
A few years ago, a Christian I knew was called to a project that far exceeded his ability. It was so difficult that the very idea of attempting it bordered on the absurd. Yet he was called and his faith rose to the occasion. God honored that faith and unexpected aid was sent. The iron floated.
Another member of the Lord’s family was in a disastrous, financial situation. He would be able to meet all of his obligations and much more if he could sell part of his estate. When it did not sell, he was placed under great pressure. In vain he sought to help a friend, but then faith led him to the unfailing helper, and the trouble was averted. God enlarged his path under him, so his feet did not slip, 2 Samuel 22:37. The Iron floated.
The third individual had to deal with a friend who was terribly depraved. He taught, warned, invited, and interceded, but the stubborn spirit would not relent. Then came an agony of prayer and soon a blessed answer from heaven. The hard heart was broken. The iron floated.
Beloved, what is your desperate problem? What heavy trial hangs over you? Bring it to the mercy seat. The God of the Prophet lives. He lives to help his saints. That you may be lacking nothing, 1 Thessalonians 4:12. Believe in the Lord of hosts. Approach Him. Plead the name of Jesus. The iron will float. You will see the finger of God working miracles for his people. According to your faith, let it be to you, Matthew 9:29. And once again, the iron will float.
The inconveniences of Little Faith. The first inconvenience of Little Faith is that while it is always sure of heaven, it very seldom thinks so. Little Faith is quite as sure of heaven as great faith. When Jesus Christ counts up his jewels at the last day, he will take to himself the little pearls as well as the great ones. If a diamond be never so small yet, it is precious because it is a diamond.
So will faith be it, never so little, if it be true faith. Christ will never lose even the smallest jewel of his ground. Little Faith is always sure of heaven because the name of little faith is in the book of eternal life. Little Faith was chosen of God before the foundation of the world. Little Faith was brought with the blood of Christ; ay, and he cost as much as great faith, for every man a shekel was the price of redemption.
Every man, whether great or small, prince or peasant, had to redeem himself with the shekel. Christ has bought all, both little and great, with the same most precious blood. Little Faith is always sure of heaven, for God has begun the good work in him, and he will carry it on. God loves him, and he will love him unto the end. God has provided a crown for him, and he will not allow the crown to hang there without a head. He has erected for him a mansion in heaven and he will not allow the mansion to stand untenanted forever.
Little Faith is always safe, but he very seldom knows it. If you meet him, he is sometimes afraid of hell, very often afraid that the wrath of God abides on him. He will tell you that the country on the other side of the flood can never belong to a worm so base as he is. Sometimes, it is because he feels himself so unworthy. Another time, it is because the things of God are too good to be true, he says, or he cannot think they can be true to such an one as he is. Sometimes, he is afraid he is not elect. Another time he fears that he has not been called aright, that he did not come to Christ aright. Another time his fears are that he will not hold on to the end, that he shall not be able to persevere, and if he kill a thousand of his fears he is sure to have another host by tomorrow. For unbelief is one of those things that you cannot destroy. It has, says John Bunyan, as many lives as a cat. You may kill it over and over again, but still it lives. It is one of those ill weeds asleep in the soil even after it has been burned, and it only needs a little encouragement to grow again.
Now Great Faith is sure of heaven, and he knows it. He climbs Pisgah’s top and views the landscape o’er. He drinks in the mysteries of paradise even before he enters within the pearly gate. He sees the streets that are paved with gold. He beholds the walls of the city, the foundations whereof are of precious stones. He hears the mystic music of the glorified, and begins to smell on earth the perfumes of heaven.
But poor Little Faith can scarcely look at the sun. He very seldom sees the light. He groves in the valley and while all is safe, he always thinks himself unsafe. This is one of the disadvantages of Little Faith.
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