What Availeth Opposition?
By M. W. Howard
Much every way, might be answered at first thought; and doubtless much is accomplished, both good and ill; for opposition is a counteracting force, however applied. Very much of injury is certainly done by mankind's opposition to the workings of God's divine Spirit. It is a co-operation with Satan, and hinders souls from accepting Christ as a Saviour. It also hinders the progress of enlightened truth, barring hearts, which otherwise might accept, against that which is distasteful to fallen human nature, but which is needful to salvation. Yet as I read and ponder the teachings of many Scripture lessons, I am ready to say in the words of another, “When God is for us, who can be against us?” and reversely, “When God is against us, who can withstand his power?” Like Saul of Tarsus, one may be “breathing out threatenings and slaughter;” but one manifestation of the Almighty can arrest and turn them. And some, even of the wicked, desire this. But this is not God's usual manner of working. He would have all men repent, and come to a knowledge of himself. Yet none are compelled; if they choose to resist, resist they may, and “wonder and perish.” In their resistance they may be only neglectful, or they may use weighty words, clamoring like the priests in the days of the prophet Amos, when the cry was raised, “The land is not able to bear all his words.” Amos 7: 10. Or, they may be more demonstrative in their opposition, like Jehoiakim king of Judah, when seated in his winter house, listening to the roll read by Jehudi. Jer. 36. Surrounded by his princes, in whose countenances he might read encouragement, he ventured upon the rash act. What did he gain? This knowledge, for one thing: that though he and all his courtiers might disbelieve, the “uttered thing of God, would be;” for the writing was replaced, and “there were added besides unto them, many like words.” In one respect, we must admit, Jehoiakim manifested more wisdom than many of our day. He did not act from hearsay, but sought out the matter himself. Jeremiah was already shut up in prison, for his bold speaking, and had forwarded his message through an amanuensis. Then, the written “roll was read in the Lord's house, in the ears of all the people” who were there to hear; but as it is often now, it was received second-hand by those whom it most concerned. But afterwards, at their own request, it was read in the ears of the princes, who reported it to the king. Incredulous perhaps, or at least willing to leave margin for possible exaggeration, he controlled, or suspended his chagrin, sending for the roll, that it might be read in his own hearing. Notice his wrathful opposition. “When Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire.” Jer. 36: 23. Behold the king, in undignified frenzy, snatching the roll from the hands of the man of God, cutting it in shreds with his penknife, and as if that were not sufficient destruction, casting the tatters into the fire! No doubt, the lookers on stood appalled, yet doubtless imagined that that was the end of that unwelcome “roll.” So mankind in opposition may strike hatefully at doctrines they do not love, with as little avail as was cutting the roll, or burning it with fire. For a brief space they may prevail, or fancy they will succeed, only in the end to perceive in the words of the poet, “All-seeing, powerful God!
Who can with thee contend?
Or who that tries the unequal strife,
Shall prosper in the end?”
The God whose purpose they seek to prostrate still lives; and opposers of his will, like the unsubmissive king, find that they have accomplished what is, as “the adding besides, many like words,” all their efforts proving but penknife weapons against the Most High. They may, indeed, harass and perplex the children of God; but, often these harassments and perplexities are the very instrumentalities that stimulate to a grander faith, and a firmer grasp on God. Till in exaltation, even timid ones can exclaim, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runneth into it and is safe;” Prov. 18: 10; or realize with Isaiah, “O Lord thou art my God, . . . a strength to the needy in distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.” Isa. 25: 1-4. Is there discomfiture here? No! The harassed, perplexed ones, may walk serenely, being “kept from the fear of evil, because their hearts are stayed on God,” even when outward commotions are such, that those who have occasioned them are truly “as the troubled sea whose waters cast up mire and dirt.” Malone, N. Y., June, 1870.