Evening, May 21

Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings

"There is corn in Egypt."

  Genesis 42:2

   Famine pinched all the nations, and it seemed inevitable that Jacob and
   his family should suffer great want; but the God of providence, who
   never forgets the objects of electing love, had stored a granary for
   his people by giving the Egyptians warning of the scarcity, and leading
   them to treasure up the grain of the years of plenty. Little did Jacob
   expect deliverance from Egypt, but there was the corn in store for him.
   Believer, though all things are apparently against thee, rest assured
   that God has made a reservation on thy behalf; in the roll of thy
   griefs there is a saving clause. Somehow he will deliver thee, and
   somewhere he will provide for thee. The quarter from which thy rescue
   shall arise may be a very unexpected one, but help will assuredly come
   in thine extremity, and thou shalt magnify the name of the Lord. If men
   do not feed thee, ravens shall; and if earth yield not wheat, heaven
   shall drop with manna. Therefore be of good courage, and rest quietly
   in the Lord. God can make the sun rise in the west if he pleases, and
   make the source of distress the channel of delight. The corn in Egypt
   was all in the hands of the beloved Joseph; he opened or closed the
   granaries at will. And so the riches of providence are all in the
   absolute power of our Lord Jesus, who will dispense them liberally to
   his people. Joseph was abundantly ready to succour his own family; and
   Jesus is unceasing in his faithful care for his brethren. Our business
   is to go after the help which is provided for us: we must not sit still
   in despondency, but bestir ourselves. Prayer will bear us soon into the
   presence of our royal Brother: once before his throne we have only to
   ask and have: his stores are not exhausted; there is corn still: his
   heart is not hard, he will give the corn to us. Lord, forgive our
   unbelief, and this evening constrain us to draw largely from thy
   fulness and receive grace for grace.