Drawing Water for Others. Moses had several anticipative opportunities of acting as a deliverer before he entered upon his life work as leader of the people of God out of Egypt, and through the wilderness. When he set one of his brethren free from the oppression of an Egyptian we read, "He thought that his brethren would understand that God by his hand was giving them deliverance" (Acts 7:25, J.N.D.). Apparently there was some thought-partial and incorrect-of his future great work. He is obliged to flee from Egypt, and coming into the land of Midian, he again finds opportunity to help the oppressed. The daughters of the priest of Midian, who cared for their father's sheep, had been hindered in their work by other shepherds driving them away from the troughs they had filled for their sheep. Moses delivers them from their oppressors; and supplies the need by drawing water for them.
There is constant need of water. It is a "dry and thirsty land," this world, and the Lord's sheep must have their thirst constantly quenched. Those who care for them are sometimes hindered in their work, and it is a great privilege to be permitted to help in this supply. There is no stint in the exhaustless source; but to draw it sometimes is necessary, that the lambs and sheep may be cared for, who cannot draw for themselves.
The Word of God, as ministered by the Spirit, is the water, and every believer has this fountain-the indwelling Spirit-in him, "springing up into everlasting life." But the Word is here for the diligent one to make use of for himself and for others. Here is where the service of a "drawer of water" may come in.
First of all we draw for ourselves. Water which flows between the banks of a stream carries refreshing to the plants and grass as it goes on, while that which comes through iron pipes deposits but rust; though it may reach those at a distance, it does not help the channel. May we be like the fertile banks.
But there are thirsty souls who need the water of the Word, and it is well to remember the Lord's assurance about giving a cup of cold water "unto one of these little ones in the name of a disciple" (Matt. 10:42).
This means daily occupation with the Word.
For the water must be freshly drawn to be cold. What an incentive we have here to make good use of the well. If we do not read the Word, meditate on it, we will have no "water" to put before the sheep. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Tim. 3:16). While a few favorite and familiar verses are always helpful, there is a richness, a fulness and variety which meet every need. So there will be abundant water for the Lord's thirsty ones, and the water of life to the unsaved.
The Bible is the Word of Christ; and it is this which makes it so satisfying and suitable.
"Oh, Christ, He is the fountain,
The deep, sweet well of love."
The holiness it inculcates is not based on the requirements of a stern and unyielding law, but is the fruit of a new life imparted by, and linked with the Person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit delights to take of the things of Christ, and unfold them, not merely before the mind, but in the heart-"The eyes of your heart being enlightened."
To draw water for others then means to put the blessed Lord before them in such a way that they can drink, be blessed and refreshed, and strengthened for the path He calls to. The world, and its prince, is ever offering the "broken cisterns." Even the children of God are deceived, and their hearts become parched, from lack of the soul reviving truths of the Lord Jesus. It is quite significant that in John, where His person is prominent, we have water spoken of a number of times. May His grace make us to be drinkers of and drawers of this living water.
The Saint's Weaning Time. It is grateful to me to write to one who feels the raging of the storm, and is at the same time seeking to find-and finding-shelter in the Lord.
What can we say? Does He remember our frame? We are prone to think He does not.
The time of weaning is a time of great suffering, but it is a necessary time. No soul learns real independence of infant help until it is weaned. It is surprising how many nurses we have, and it is just in proportion as we obtain strength to go without any of them that our age or advance in life is determined. I believe (except very few) that each of us is going through a process of weaning, and what is it for? Simply that in our given strength we might be able to depend on God, without the medium of that which betokens our personal weakness.
The suffering connected with weaning arises from the deprivation of something with which we connected the blessings of life. This may occur in many ways. Satan thought Job could not be weaned, for he said, "Take from him all that he hath, and he will curse Thee to thy face;" but Job was weaned. The soul is weaned when it can worship God and pray for others. I do not worship, nor can I, unless my soul is engaged with God; and I cannot really pray for others if engrossed with myself or the things dear to me.
If I am occupied with myself and the loss of any of the channels of comfort, God must wean me, and, oh, what days and nights of bitter soul-tears are shed whilst the soul is weaning from some long-enjoyed mercy! Is it that He who gave His Son would deny us any good thing? Oh, no! But He must wean us, or we should never know really how to depend on Him, apart from any human or natural intervention.
No doubt Paul often spoke of having no confidence in the flesh, but it was in the prison at Rome that he felt he was entirely weaned. Any soul who has been marking his own progress, from the moment God began to wean him, or deprive him of things dear to which he clung, until he was weaned (or rested on God, independent of his loss), can tell of the momentary lulls and rapidly succeeding agonies of soul which marked the desperately dark tunnel through which, in experience, he passed, until the light and joy of the presence of God was reached. Oh, how God pities us in all this anguish! But He cannot give up until He has secured our blessing.
He cannot relax His hand, but He furnishes us with many lamps to modify the chill and darkness of our subterranean travel. -selected.
"There are three things I find in the often trying, toilsome life of faith:first trusting God that nothing can hinder His accomplishing His purpose. All that his brethren did to frustrate the accomplishment of Joseph's dreams, just led to that accomplishment. They sent him to Egypt. The hard and wicked accusation against him in Potiphar's house, put him in prison, where he met the butler and baker who brought him where the dream was fulfilled.
"Next, for us, simple obedience, taking God's mind for wisdom, and doing His will. He has a path for His saints in this world; in it they find Him and His strength, though perhaps the life of faith be dark:then, if we know the purpose of God, light is in the soul. But the path He will guide us in. It may seem dark, but if His, it is the way of arriving at His rest.
"But a single eye, seeking nothing but Christ, is the secret of certainty of walk, and firmness as having the secret of the Lord with you. But what a calling! We have to walk worthy of God who has called us to His own kingdom, and yet what a joy to be associated with Himself! And we know His purpose is to glorify Christ, and so we seek that, in walking worthy of Him and serving Him in love."-J. N. D., extract from a letter, about 1880.
"This Lord is faithful and full of tender compassion; of whom should we be afraid except of ourselves? There we have reason. Trust in the Lord, and be doing good. Our time is a time to sow, but if faithful, the sheaves will come in due time. It is by faith and patience we shall inherit:God means it should be so."-J. N. D.
"Did you never taste what the poor prodigal did when his father's arms were round him? The flowing of God's mercy to your soul, is not from any suitability in yourself to receive it, but from the strange marvelous ways of God. When His mercy reaches the soul, it comes in the revelation of the character of God in love."-G. V. W.