Yet They Are Your People # 2

Yet They Are Your People # 2

What a fearful picture, what a catalog of crimes! Still Moses says, "Yet they are Your people, Your inheritance!" Oh, wondrous grace! Can these be the Lord's people? Yes, of them it is written, "The Lord has chosen Jacob for Himself, and Israel for His peculiar treasure." Surely it could not be for their excellency; or on account of their good works! No, "for My own sake," says the Lord, "for My names sake." God had a reason for acting - but it is found in Himself - not in His people.

But as base as their conduct was - who of us can cast a stone at them? Who has not done the same, really - if not formally? Have we not murmured against His providence, complained of His dealings, idolized His gifts, lusted after forbidden objects, and disbelieved His Word?

Which of Israel's sins is it, of which we cannot find the counterpart in our own hearts or conduct?

Have we not been ungrateful - as ungrateful as they were?

Have we not been unnatural in our conduct toward God - as unnatural as they were? 

Is not our sin fearful - more fearful than theirs, as it is committed in clearer light, against greater love, after deeper obligations?

Friend, however you may feel - the writer feels that he is truly guilty. Whatever excuse you may have - he feels that he has none. However you may extenuate your crimes - he cannot extenuate his. "Is not your iniquities infinite?" Yes! I am vile! I loathe myself! I abhor myself! I desire forever to glorify God's most free, sovereign, and distinguishing grace - which alone saves me from hell!

Thirdly, at the plea of Moses. The Lord was angry and threatened to destroy them. Moses falls down before Him, to plead with Him. He admits every charge that was brought against them - but still pleads, "Yet they are Your people, Your inheritance, whom You brought out by Your great power and Your outstretched arm."

Just so, in reference to us, and the Lord's imperfect people with whom we are connected: they have haughty tempers, depraved hearts, inconsistent ways, and a host of infirmities, and imperfections - and yet they are the Lord's people.

He has acknowledged them at His throne, in His house, and by His providence - when none but God would. His word is pledged to them, and He is engaged finally and eternally to deliver them.

Yes, poor, timid, tried reader; as bad as your heart is, as imperfect as your life is, as numerous as your faults are - yet you have not gone beyond Israel, nor beyond many of the Lord's people around you. Do not write bitter things against yourself. You may be one of the Lord's people - notwithstanding all you have done, all that you feel, and all that you fear; and if you really hate sin, rest on Jesus, and sigh and seek for holiness - you are one of them, too.

Observe: Grace, free grace - is the source of all our blessings. But for grace - we would have been left wretched, miserable, poor, and naked!

Are we now rendering returns to the Lord? How have we treated Him in the closet? What is the state of our hearts to Him? He has spoken - and have we listened? He has commanded - and have we obeyed? He has prohibited - and have we avoided? He has exhorted - and have we attended? He has invited - and have we accepted? Have we?

But amidst all, our filial relationship still remains with God - and may be pleaded. He is our God - and we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. He still speaks to us in His Word, watches over us by His providence, listens to us on His throne, and promises to be very gracious at the voice of our cry.

God's grace - is wondrous grace. His mercy - is from everlasting to everlasting! Amidst all our changes - He never changes; and therefore we not consumed.

~James Smith~

(The End)