The Use of Afflictions by Moses Hull

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 11, 1863

The Use of Afflictions.

By Moses Hull

BY MOSES HULL.

We are in a world of affliction. A Bible writer has said, "Man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward." Job v, 7. The same writer has also said, "Man is of few days and full of trouble." Chap. xiv, 1. Every human being realizes to a greater or less extent, the truthfulness of these sayings. Sometimes the most devoted, humble, and patient servants of God suffer most. The composer of Ps. lxxiii, seemed to think this was generally the case. While he declared "that the ungodly are not in trouble as other men, neither are they plagued like other men," he said of God's people "that the waters of a full cup are wrung out to them."

That a great and good God rules this world, is doubted by no Bible believer. But if the Jehovah, who has not only all power, but all goodness, rules this world, why does he permit affliction to come upon his children? This question I am going to try to answer. But before so doing, permit me to say that we often talk about the affliction of God's humble children, without realizing that it is affliction that has made them what they are. David said, "Before I was afflicted I went astray." Ps. cxix, 67. Again, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy statutes." Verse 71. And again, "I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me." Vs. 75. David was at times greatly afflicted, insomuch that he exclaimed, "Unless thy law had been my delight, I should have perished in my afflictions." Vs. 92. "I am afflicted very much." Vs. 107. Surely no one can read the above scriptures without concluding that David's afflictions accomplished for him what otherwise could not have been done.

Here I will affirm that one of the reasons of the afflictions of God's people is, that they will accomplish for them what cannot otherwise be accomplished.

God promised to Abraham that his seed should inherit the land of Canaan; but told him to "know of a surety" that before that time they should be strangers in a land that was not theirs, and should serve them and they should afflict them four hundred years. Gen. xv, 13. By turning to Ex. i, 7-17; vi, 11; xiv, 10, he will find that the children of Israel were greatly afflicted. Not only were cruel task-masters set over them, who almost daily increased their burdens, refusing them the necessary amount of straw, and yet requiring "the tale of bricks;" but decrees were issued putting their male children to death. Thus matters went on till God said, "I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their task-masters; for I know their sorrows." Ex. iii, 7. Why were they thus afflicted? I answer—

1. They never would have left Egypt had it not been for their afflictions. Had they lived in case and worldly prosperity in Egypt, they would have had all they could have enjoyed in the land of Canaan. Under these circumstances Moses could hardly have persuaded them to undertake a perilous journey through the wilderness for the sake of land "flowing with milk and honey." Their race must run out if they stay in Egypt. The decree has been passed that all their male children must be put to death. Hence there is no alternative, they must flee from Egypt. Now suppose the decree had never gone forth, and God's people had remained in Egypt, what would the result have been? Undoubtedly we should have had no Messiah. Or if Christ had come he would have been unable to trace his pedigree back to Abraham; hence we should not be able to prove his Messiahship. Had the Hebrews stayed in Egypt, they would undoubtedly have so mingled with the Egyptians that it would have been impossible, by the time the Saviour made his advent, to determine who were Hebrews and who were not.

2. Could they, without being afflicted in Egypt, have been persuaded to leave that country, they never would have endured the hardships of a forty years' journey through a wilderness country. No! a mutiny would have been raised. Moses and Aaron would have been assassinated, and the children of Israel would have returned to the "flesh-pots of Egypt."

3. Afflictions served to bind them together. There is no cord calculated to bind people more closely together than that of affliction. Let a people suffer together for years, as the children of Israel did in the land of Egypt, and in the wilderness—let their tears flow together as did theirs—let them have no other resource for help but to help each other; and they will become united—they will be prepared to move in unison in all important matters.

4. Their afflictions gave Jehovah a chance to work for them, and thus prove himself to be the true God. It was not until affliction had driven Moses out of Egypt, that God revealed himself to him in the "burning bush," and gave him forty years' education in the land of Midian. It was not until the Egyptians were in sight, with their chariots and horses, and there was no other alternative, that the Lord miraculously delivered his people by parting the waters and permitting them to "go through dry shod." It was not until the children of Israel had searched three days for water that the waters of Marah were sweetened. It was not until they feared they would be killed with hunger, and began to wish that they had died by the flesh-pots of Egypt, that God rained down bread from heaven, and commanded them to gather a certain rate every day. At Rephidim the people thirst for water until they fear that themselves, their little ones, and their cattle will be killed with thirst, before Moses is permitted to smite the rock, and let "the waters gush out." Thus in every instance God has permitted his children by affliction to get where they could appreciate his blessings before he has granted them; and then has usually granted them in such a way that they could not deny his agency in them.

In examining the history of the people of God from the days of Abraham to the present, I notice that the blessings of God have ever been preceded by great affliction. I have shown that it was the case in their redemption from Egyptian bondage. It was so in their deliverance from Babylonish captivity. No decree was passed honoring the "Israel of God" in the least, until after Haman had made the gallows upon which to hang Mordecai; "and letters were sent into all the kings' provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day." Esth. iii, 5-15; v, 14; viii, 8. It was not until after the three Hebrew children were cast into the furnace of fire that they were promoted in Babylon. Dan. iii, 30. It was not until after Daniel had been cast into the den of hungry lions, that all in Darius' dominion were compelled by a decree of the king to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel. Chap. vi, 20. It was not until after the Messiah had fasted, and withstood the tempting Devil forty days, that angels were sent to minister to him. Matt. iv, 11. It was not until Paul and Silas had been cruelly beaten, put into jail, and their feet made fast in the stocks, that success crowned their labors in Philippi and Thessalonica. Thus we find the road to every blessing is strewed with afflictions.

The query here arises, Why does God usually withhold his especial blessings until in cases of affliction? I answer, It is the province of affliction to bring God's people into a place where he can bless them.

Where is the child of God that cannot say in truth, "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now have I kept thy commandments?" or, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy statutes?" The one who has never used the name of God in time of prosperity, except to take it in vain, will sometimes in times of sickness pray as earnestly as did Hezekiah. David says, "From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I." Ps. lxi, 2. Yes, even a Pharaoh, when the plagues are falling on him, could say, "I have sinned against the Lord your God, and against you—now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin, and entreat the Lord your God, that he may take away this death only." Ex. x, 16, 17.

David in describing God's dealings with the children of Israel says, "When he slew them, then they sought him, and returned and inquired early after God." Ps. lxxviii, 34. In Heb. xii, 5-12 Paul has clearly argued this point. In verse 11 he says, "Now no chastening for the present seemeth joyous, but grievous; nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them that are exercised thereby." But all are not exercised by it. Isaiah laments concerning Israel, that they turn "not unto Him that smiteth them; neither do they seek the Lord of Hosts." Isa. ix, 13. See also Hos. vii, 9, 10; Jer. v, 3, 4. God's afflicting hand was upon Israel; the prophets were crying aloud and sparing not; and yet Israel refused to turn to him that smote them, until the decree went forth to put them all to death; then were they willing to repent in sackcloth and ashes. Esth. iv, 1, 15, 16.

(To be Continued.)