“All These Things Are Against Me”
By C. L. Taylor
READ again the title of this article. Think carefully of every word. “All these things are against me.” Notice, please, the three principal words,—“things,” “against,” and “me.” What things are pointed out? Who is “me”? And why are things “against” this “me”? The story is found in Genesis. It is the story of Jacob. The reader will remember that Jacob’s sons had sold young Joseph into Egyptian slavery, and afterward they deceived their father into believing that Joseph had been slain by wild beasts. He will remember Joseph’s experience, and how, through faithfulness to God, he finally became prime minister in the great world kingdom of Egypt. He will recall the journey of Jacob’s sons when they went into Egypt for bread; and that Simeon was left bound, and the message sent that Benjamin must accompany the brethren on their next trip. The placing of the money in the mouths of the food sacks will not be forgotten. The brethren have returned to their father. They are telling him of what has befallen them, and that Benjamin must make the next journey with them; and while thus speaking, they find the money in their sacks—a fact which must stamp them all as thieves. Then it is that the father’s heart breaks. In the agony of his great grief, he cries out, “All these things are against me.” But were they?—Ah, no! He had made a great mistake. He had failed to recognize his Father’s handwriting. He thought he saw the productions of an enemy’s pen. And seeing only the dictations of satanic agencies, he abandoned himself to sorrow. This seemed to be Jacob’s experience all his life. When Joseph was first taken from him, he saw nothing but the circumstances of trouble; and turning away from all who would extend sympathy, “he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning.” Gen. 37: 35. Jacob saw only the visible things. He looked “at the things which are seen.” 2 Cor. 4: 18. And thus it was that his “light affliction” worked not glory, but distress and anguish and darkness. Listen to his words: “Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me.” He saw himself, he saw his boys, he saw what had been done, he saw what was about to be done. He was abused, the boys had done wrong, the circumstances were ill, the future promised evil. But these very things were identical with those which Joseph had been obliged to meet. Yet Joseph met them and saw them in a manner which brought him comfort and edification. He saw in all of them the handiwork of God; and as a result, he went ever onward and upward, daily drinking at the fountain of God’s pleasure, daily assimilating the glory of the divine. Joseph looked at the things776“which are not seen.” He saw God, and was changed into the divine image. To him, those same “all things” worked together for good. Nothing was against him; all was for him. In after years, Jacob came to see and understand. See Gen. 48: 15, 16. But, oh, how much of joy and peace and satisfaction he had missed! For twenty-two long years, he carried the weight of sorrow over Joseph’s supposed death. He mourned, and mourned, and mourned. For twenty-two years, at least, he counted himself the creature of semi-fate. For nearly a quarter of a century, the tendency of his experience was down rather than up. And all because he could not see God standing in the shadows. My dear friend, are you passing through deep sorrow, and do you feel as did the psalmist when he said, “All Thy waves and Thy billows are gone over me”? Are you almost overwhelmed? If so, just recall that God is keeping watch. Your experiences are His providences. He is always nearest when He seems farthest away. It is in your time of trouble that you should expect to behold Him. It is while the fire of trial burns most fiercely that He will reveal Himself to you. Look for “the form of the Fourth” (Dan. 3:25) while you are still in the furnace. He will surely indorse your faith. The greatest joy in this poor sin-cursed earth is that of seeing God during trouble. What is the message of the handwriting of to-day? Do not hurry. Take time. Pray. If at first your tear-blinded eyes cannot see, let the dear Lord use the divine handkerchief of trust to wipe away the tears, and, reading, you will discover a blessed missive of comfort and consolation. Things are not against us. Every cloud is big with mercy. Let us be joyful and trustful, and make Rom. 8: 28 our word in every dark hour.