Daily Journey: October 1st

Isaiah 29:1-30:33; Ephesians 2:11-3:21

Thought from Today’s Old Testament Passage:

“He will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when He shall hear it, He will answer thee.”—Isaiah 30:19.

The great sin of man is his alienation from God. He hath said in his heart, “No God,” and in his life he laboureth to escape from the divine Presence. The journey into the far country is not only made for the sake of the riotous living, but that he may get away from the Father’s house. One would have thought man would turn unto the Lord in the day of trouble, even as Hosea said, “In their affliction they will seek Me early.” But this, alas, is not in truth and sincerity, for too often the sinner follows the example of Ahaz, of whom it is written, “In the time of this distress did he trespass yet more against the Lord….” All the trials and trouble in the world will not of themselves drive a man to God, but will the rather hurry him into rebellion, despair and hardness of heart. Man will look in all directions sooner than look to God. He will sooner, like Saul, seek the help of a witch or a devil than seek the living God. He will rather make a league with death and a covenant with hell than turn his heart towards his best Friend and Helper. It is written, “Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord!” Vain is the warning, for man still leans upon an arm of flesh and counts it a foolish and fanciful thing to rely upon the Almighty God.

Charles H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of the Bible, Vol. 3 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1962), p. 510.