NOTHING HERE FOR THE MAN OF GOD

NOTHING HERE FOR THE MAN OF GOD

The wilderness has been much before us. The first thing with respect to the wilderness is that there is nothing here for the man of God. If he is to be sustained here, he must receive from some place outside ^[p. 500] this world. This is a great point to reach - there is neither bread nor water in the typical wilderness. If you enter it as you undertake a voyage you will do well. You are prepared before you start.

You start with assured confidence in the Shepherd, that you shall not want; then you are prepared by lying down in green pastures, contemplating the blessedness which He has given you. Now you are fit to come out, not merely to a land of dearth but to a world of unrighteousness. If you come out aright, and in divine vigour, fed by wisdom (see Proverbs 9), your separation from the foolish man will be very distinct, and great will be the favour to you from the Lord. You will be honoured where you have been opposed, anointed where you have nothing, and your cup running over in a dry and barren land, where no water is.

Everything here depends on the way you come into it. If you come with your feathers oiled, like the water-fowl prepared for the water, you will get on well. But if you come with unoiled feathers you will be a miserable object, like a hen in rain, and you yourself will be most miserable.