Aged Persons Through Whom God Has Wrought Mightily
By George Ide Butler
It is interesting to reflect upon and carefully consider God’s methods of doing things. His ways are not our ways, and his thoughts are different from our thoughts. Man takes a superficial view of many things. God’s all-seeing eye takes in every motive, every particular, even the minutest influences, affecting human conduct. He sees the end from the beginning. In the ordinary course of service in the cause of God, persons labor according to their strength and powers of endurance. Many drop out in comparatively brief periods. Others have been preserved by the Lord to do important work for God till of a great age. Let us notice some of these interesting cases. Noah was six hundred years old when the flood was upon the earth. Gen. 7: 11. He had spent about a century in preaching to the antediluvian sinners and preparing for the flood. ‘Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.’ Gen. 6: 9. Noah lived to be nine hundred and fifty years old. He was really the last of the long-lived generation of the antediluvians. In about nine generations from his time the length of human life had decreased from nine hundred and fifty to one hundred and seventy-five years, the length of Abraham’s life. The Bible nowhere tells us of the cause of this remarkable reduction. It would seem that Abraham lived much longer than many others at that time. He was considered an old patriarch when he died. He was a prophet of the Lord, and had visions of God’s glory, in which were revealed to him many things concerning his posterity. The case of Moses is remarkable. He lived one hundred and twenty years. His life was very eventful. God chose him as the leader of his people, and his ability is manifest from what Stephen declares: ‘Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds’ (Acts 7: 22); that is, he was eloquent and a great general in military lines, and he retained his prominence with the Egyptians till he was forty years of age. Then the lessons his godly mother taught him in his youth came forcibly to his mind. He had had his fill of earthly glory, had seen its emptiness, its vanity, and nothingness. He wanted something better. He ‘refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.’ Though his people were a race of slaves, he preferred the destiny God had promised them above ‘all the treasures of Egypt.’ He chose ‘rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.’ ‘By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.’ Heb. 11: 24-27. Eighty years of Moses’ life passed before he came upon the stage of action as the leader of the hosts of Israel. Very likely most of them thought he was too old to be their leader, yet he carried that great multitude upon his soul. Uncomplainingly he bore tremendous burdens, — burdens that were enough to crush an ordinary mortal. Powerfully he impressed upon their minds their obligations to God. The book of Deuteronomy is a rehearsal of the law and of God’s dealings with Israel. The Lord so sustained Moses that he did not die of old age. When at last he climbed Pisgah’s height, ‘his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.’ Deut. 34: 7. He led the people to the border of Canaan, and then the time came for this grand and noble prophet to close his ministry. The Lord showed him the Promised Land to its utmost borders, and then Moses died in the land of Moab. But it was not long that death held him. The Son of God came down and rescued the man of God from Satan’s power, and he has been glorified in the heavenly Canaan for thousands of years. He appeared with Elijah on the mount of transfiguration when the Son of God was glorified. Here certainly was an old man who was most useful in the service of God. Joshua and Caleb were highly honored of God. In one of the great crises of the exodus they acted a noble part. Sent with others to spy out the land, they brought back a good report, while their companions talked discouragement and created rebellion. All above twenty years of age died in the wilderness, except Caleb and Joshua. They helped to conquer the land of Canaan. What a wonderful thing this was! Of all the thousands of adults who left Egypt, only Caleb and Joshua reached the Promised Land, and lived there for many years in excellent health. Is it not evident that God preserved their lives, and cannot he do the same for his faithful children in our times? He ‘changeth not.’ We cannot doubt that our God preserves men’s lives many years to serve his high purposes. Joshua and Caleb with their long experience were invaluable in the conquest of Canaan. The people looked up to them, and they were a source of great strength to the whole congregation. To show his faith in God, Caleb chose for his portion of the country to conquer the very place where the mighty giants lived. His strength for war when he was eighty-five was as great as when younger. He made short work of those giants, for God was with him. Joshua, the successor of Moses, was a faithful ruler of the people, and lived to be one hundred and ten years old. What an illustrious example was that of Daniel, the man of God, the great statesman of two great kingdoms — prime minister of Nebuchadnezzar, the great king of Babylon, and of Darius and Cyrus, rulers of Medo-Persia. He was a wonderful prophet of the Lord, and lived a full century. God was constantly with him, and not a flaw can be found in his life. No prophecies in the world’s history excel his. Of all the disciples and apostles who gave their lives for the Master, the beloved John continued much the longest. He lived about a century, faithfully following his blessed Lord and laboring for men’s salvation. According to the best light obtainable, his Gospel and that wonderful book of Revelation were both written very near the close of his life. The latter book closes the canon of the New Testament, and is one of the most remarkable of all for the important facts it makes known concerning the times immediately preceding Christ’s return. John’s life was evidently preserved by the Lord for an important purpose. Once more, in the final work, true visions are seen in the remnant church. God gives special light for the guidance of his true people. The work of warning the world is to be accomplished in one generation. ‘This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.’ Matt. 24: 34. This great closing work of preparing a people for translation, requiring special light from heaven for its accomplishment, must in the nature of things take some time. The servant of God inspired to help accomplish this work, must have a long life, to fill up and complete the lessons of instruction to be given. Like Moses just before the chosen people entered the Promised Land, worn and weary with the toils and labors of a long life and many cares, she could lie down and rest in blessed hope and peace, soon to awaken when the Master shall call for his own. That long life has ended, and that mother in Israel sleeps in Jesus. None who know all the facts can doubt that over and over again God sustained her and prolonged her life. It is only reasonable to suppose that God has servants who know all the history of this work from the early days, and who will act an important part in the final work in these last days. The writer knows of one who was among the earliest workers in this cause, whose labors have been continuous, who has written valuable books, who was especially acquainted with all the important facts connected with the life of God’s dear servant now at rest. The Lord has remarkably sustained him, and his testimony is yet heard among us. His labors and travels have been numerous. His life has been an honor to this cause. We cannot doubt but that God especially preserves it. Another comes to mind whose labors have been most arduous and taxing, who has also written valuable books and held very high positions in this cause. The writer was present on a very interesting occasion, over thirty years ago, when, in the Tabernacle at Battle Creek, in the midst of a sermon, this dear brother became so weak in physical power that he broke down, and another had to finish for him. Our brother was carried to a place of retirement. While lying down, his form was shaken by the deepest emotion, and in anguish of spirit he said, ‘Lord, let me die if I can no longer work in thy vineyard.’ Our eyes were filled with tears of sympathy for our dear brother. God supported and sustained him.10Since that time he has done much most valuable work in this cause, and still remains to cheer our hearts and encourage God’s faithful people. Who can doubt that God has been sparing these devout men for still more work before the end shall come? We have a mighty God, dear brethren and sisters, and he can do great things. It can be plainly seen that the Lord often uses very old men for most important work. Let those of us who are old thank God for the privilege of working for the Master, even in our old age.