THE WAY OF THE WILDERNESS.
"He knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness." Deut. 2:7. WHEN smitten by the plagues of God the pride of Pharaoh broke,
And Jacob's seed, their bondage o'er, went forth free from the yoke,
Out through the waste, with wife and child, those men of Israel press,
God knowing all their journeying through that great wilderness. The sea, that lies across their course, like thread of tow is riven;
They thirst, and streams break forth from rocks—they feed on bread from heaven.
And Amalek and Amorite, His sovereign power confess,
Who drives, like drifting sands, their hosts along the wilderness. Child of the living God, to-day, freed from Egyptian chains,
But toiling yet through rugged ways, barren and burning plains,
Write thee on banner and on heart this balm for thy distress:
He knoweth all thy journeying through that great wilderness. No blast from out the ruthless north, nor red Sahara's breath,
Nor pestilence that creepeth forth from Asia's dews of death,
Nor hunger, thirst, nor arm of man too hard or long can press,
He knoweth all thy journeying through that great wilderness. Ye fathers, bowed beneath the toil crowding each weary day,
Oh, sad-faced mother, girt with cares that drain thy life away,
Oh, mourning, broken, bleeding one, whate'er thy grief or stress,
He knoweth all thy journeying through that great wilderness. Whatever cross, whatever thorn, is placed beneath thy roof,
Be thankful still for chastening, grateful for His reproof.
Until his hand shall bring relief, seek thee no sorrow less,
He knoweth all thy journeying through that great wilderness. And when the lesson hath been learned, consumed the lurking dross,
And changed to fellowship with him the suffering and the "loss,"
Then shalt thou see, because his feet a path of tears did press,
He knew so well thy wanderings through that great wilderness. Oh, weeping ones in desert lands, widowed and homeless now,
What shall ye have, when he shall come with laurels on his brow?
What shall ye be in that glad day when Sharon's rose shall bless,
And Zion's throned peaks, like suns, light up the wilderness!