He is the Lord our God: His judgments are in all the earth.
God in Jewish history, working for His people
I. His absolute sovereignty (verse 9). The selection of Abraham to distinguished privileges is only an example of what has been going on in the history of men in all times. All men are not alike endowed, nor alike distinguished in privilege. Some have more health, more beauty, more talent, more enjoyments, than others. Shall any find fault with this? “Who art thou that repliest against God?” We should, however, always remember that God’s sovereignty is not arbitrary power, not capricious impulse, but is evermore the free expression of His heart, and that heart is love.
II. His inviolable faithfulness (verse 8). Men fail to fulfil their promises from one of three reasons--either because they were insincere when they made the promise, or because they subsequently changed their minds, or because difficulties occurred which they never anticipated. None of these reasons can be ascribed to God.
III. His territorial proprietorship (verse 11). Let all landowners remember that the acres they call their own are only borrowed property, they are only tenants at will, or rather stewards, responsible for the use they make of every foot of ground.
IV. His compassionate superintendence. He watched over them.
1. When they were few (verse 12). How He watched over Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, only three! We lose individuals in the mass. To Him the individual is the object of interest, the individual is His offspring, representative, fountain of immeasurable influence. “Unto that man will I look.”
2. When they were wandering strangers (verse 13). Though unknown, ignored, it may be despised, the few wandered amongst ten thousand strangers, His eye was upon them, and His sympathies were with them.
3. When they were threatened (verses 14, 15). (Homilist.)