Morning, April 30

Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings

"And all the children of Israel murmured."

  Numbers 14:2

   There are murmurers amongst Christians now, as there were in the camp
   of Israel of old. There are those who, when the rod falls, cry out
   against the afflictive dispensation. They ask, "Why am I thus
   afflicted? What have I done to be chastened in this manner?" A word
   with thee, O murmurer! Why shouldst thou murmur against the
   dispensations of thy heavenly Father? Can he treat thee more hardly
   than thou deservest? Consider what a rebel thou wast once, but he has
   pardoned thee! Surely, if he in his wisdom sees fit now to chasten
   thee, thou shouldst not complain. After all, art thou smitten as hardly
   as thy sins deserve? Consider the corruption which is in thy breast,
   and then wilt thou wonder that there needs so much of the rod to fetch
   it out? Weigh thyself, and discern how much dross is mingled with thy
   gold; and dost thou think the fire too hot to purge away so much dross
   as thou hast? Does not that proud rebellious spirit of thine prove that
   thy heart is not thoroughly sanctified? Are not those murmuring words
   contrary to the holy submissive nature of God's children? Is not the
   correction needed? But if thou wilt murmur against the chastening, take
   heed, for it will go hard with murmurers. God always chastises his
   children twice, if they do not bear the first stroke patiently. But
   know one thing--"He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children
   of men." All his corrections are sent in love, to purify thee, and to
   draw thee nearer to himself. Surely it must help thee to bear the
   chastening with resignation if thou art able to recognize thy Father's
   hand. For "whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son
   whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as
   with sons." "Murmur not as some of them also murmured and were
   destroyed of the destroyer."