Evening, June 28
Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings
Exodus 7:12
"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!