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The Bruised Reed

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Review and Herald Publishing Assn. · Washington, D. C. · Jan 7, 1904

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 81, No. 1.

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The Bruised Reed

By F. D. Starr

F. D. STARR
It was said of our Redeemer: “A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench” (Matt. 12:20); or, as the German translation renders it, “the glimmering torch shall he not quench.” This illustrates the long-suffering and patience of our blessed Lord. If there is found any trace of moral worth, it is cherished and preserved with the hope that further improvement will be made. The open book of nature shows also this method of dealing.
Recently in cutting logs for a building, one was selected that was as straight as the rest, but a piece being cut off from the end and split open, it was seen that the inner grains were very crooked, showing that when the tree was small, it was quite crooked, but nature had filled out the parts that were lacking, and it had become a well-rounded tree. This illustrates the early perversity that is often seen in childhood and youth. We would think such gnarled and knotty sticks utterly worthless, but the God of nature causes the crooked to be made straight, and the rough places even and plain, so that the ugly sapling becomes a beautiful tree, fit for use in building important structures.
How different are our ways from God's ways! Often we are disposed, because matters are not managed just as we think they should be, to refuse to have anything to do with them. We balk and withdraw our assistance, perhaps conscientiously, because we are sure wrong methods are employed. But is that what we see in nature? A little boy of half a dozen summers had one of his fingers smashed, and an experienced surgeon said it must be amputated. But his parents were not willing their child should lose a finger, so they cared for it, and it healed, and when manhood was reached, it could scarcely be seen that the finger had ever been injured. But how many fingers, arms, and legs are removed that should never have been cut off! Their possessors might just as well have had the use of these limbs as to have been life-long cripples. But in case a limb is taken off by mistake, does nature refuse to co-operate with the process, and lend her healing power?—Far from it. See how nicely the stump heals over, and soon it looks as if the affected part were in its present condition from birth. Though a great blunder had been made in removing the injured arm or leg, nature's restoring power is not withheld, and in this case “all things work together for good” in this process of restoration.
God, who could bring blessing and salvation from the actions of Joseph's brothers, though they were moved with envy in what they did,—he who would work with Israel and their king, though they sinned a great sin in asking for this temporal sovereign,—teaches us also through nature's lenient processes the grace of being “easy to be entreated.” James 3:17. Oftentimes the very course that would seem to be unadvisable is the one that will bring the most benefit. Twoscore years ago a school-teacher advised the parents of a lad who was just entering his teens, to seek for their son some light work, or a position as clerk or teacher, as he was too frail and puny to ever become a farmer. But soon after, to save the boy from moral ruin, he was placed upon a farm. He grew up to love that occupation, and under a hygienic manner of living, became strong to endure hard labor without fatigue. The farm was the physical salvation of the boy, as well as a great auxiliary from a moral standpoint.
O, how many bruised reeds that seem good for nothing are ruthlessly thrust aside, when they might find a useful place in the multiform framework of society! How many glimmering torches, that seem to emit nothing but offensive smoke, are carelessly extinguished when they might brighten up into a brilliant flame to shine as lights in the world!
“We entreat the heralds of the gospel of Christ never to become discouraged in the work, never to consider the most hardened sinner beyond the reach of the grace of God. Such may accept the truth in the love of it, and become the salt of the earth. He who turns the hearts of men as the rivers of water are turned, can bring the most selfish, sin-hardened soul to surrender to Christ. Is aught too hard for God to do? ‘My word,’ he says, ‘shall not return unto me void; but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.’”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. IV, page 537.
“More about Jesus would I know, More of his love to others show.”