THE NEVER-FAILING PRESENCE
‘I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.’
These words, or words very like them, occur in five different places in the Bible. They were spoken to Jacob (Genesis 28:15); and again twice to Israel in Deuteronomy 31:6; Deuteronomy 31:8. God Himself repeated them to Joshua (Hebrews 1:5).
I. Every true-hearted Christian may claim this promise as his own.—He may say, The great God has spoken to me from heaven, as if there were no one else in the world, and He has said, ‘I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.’ But what right have I to take a promise addressed to Jacob, and Israel, and Joshua as my own? If you will turn to Galatians 3:29, you will see, ‘If ye are Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to promise.’ If I belong to Christ, then I am a true child of Abraham, and an heir of all the promises.
II. Mark well that ‘I.’—The mother cannot say to her children, ‘I will never leave you.’ The pastor cannot say to his flock, ‘I will never leave you.’ Friend cannot say to friend, ‘I will never leave you.’ But God says it to the weakest, the humblest, the feeblest of His children. Put that ‘I’ and that ‘thee’ together, for what God has joined together let no man put asunder.
III. Seek to be able to trust God’s promise with simple and childlike faith. Rest upon it, not as you would tread upon ice you feared every moment would crack, but stand boldly on it as you would on a rock that has stood for ages. Why live in the cold and dreary wilderness, when the sweet land of promise is before you, where the light of God’s countenance is ever shining, and the air is warm, and there are grapes of Eshcol, and no fears or doubts, but songs, and gladness, and ‘perfect peace’?
—Rev. F. Harper.
Illustration
‘The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
He’ll never, no never, desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavour to shake,
He’ll never, no never, no never forsake.’
(SECOND OUTLINE)
THE DIVINE PRESENCE
Coming where it does, this promise is meant to reassure us in whatever position we are. ‘Be content with such things as ye have,’ for ‘He hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.’
I. This is a declaration of God’s Personal Presence.—The quotation shows that God’s promises to any are the property of all His people. Only God can say, ‘I will not leave thee’; not one of His gifts can say it. Loneliness destroys content. God satisfies.
II. This Presence pervades the arrangements of our life.—The words must mean that God will be in all our circumstances, and where He is He will not play a subsidiary part, and follow where chance or our waywardness may dictate. ‘I will not leave thee,’ must mean I will guide thee: choose thy lot; appoint thy changes; where thou comest thou shalt be brought by Me. Dread of the Unknown destroys content. God in all we have creates content by removing that dread.
III. This Presence is the guarantee of protection and supply.—No hurt can come to him with whom God is as his friend. Fear destroys content, but God with us enables us to say, ‘I will not fear.’
IV. ‘He hath said.’—There are five negatives here to prevent our doubting it.