Joseph, on sending his brothers
away that they might bring their father Jacob to Egypt, gives them a final word
of exhortation:"Do not quarrel on the way" (Gen. 45:24 JND).
Brethren—and sisters too—how we need this caution! We need to exercise a spirit
of forbearance with one another; otherwise we will never get on together. See
how even such eminent servants of Christ as Barnabas and Paul quarreled on the
way. The contention was so sharp between them that they separated from one
another (Acts 15:39). How sad, and how humiliating! May the Lord keep us! The
flesh is in us, ever ready to assert itself on the slightest easing of the
restraint placed upon it by the Spirit.
A traveler once saw two mountain
goats meet on a narrow ledge of rock high up on the perpendicular face of the
mountainside. There they stood face to face in the pathway just wide enough for
one. He watched them eagerly; knowing the great combativeness of the goat, he
fully expected to see one of them hurled to its death into the depths below.
But, to his utter surprise, he saw one of the goats quietly lie down while the
other stepped over it. And then each went on its sensible way.
Even the beasts may teach us,
children of God—and shame us sometimes too. If, when difficulty arises, or
matters come to a deadlock among us, we could give way—lie down, as it were—and
be walked over, there would be fewer quarrels in our midst. "Let people
walk over me? Never!" you say. Then you are not very much like your
Master. And you little heed His precepts. He who was ever "meek and lowly
in heart" exhorted to non-resistance constantly. It is the only way in
which quarreling on the way can be avoided. The world is watching us as the
tourist watched the goats. And how many of them enjoy seeing the saints of God
at loggerheads! How delighted they are to see "how these Christians love
(!) one another." May the Lord help us to "be at peace among
[ourselves]" (1 Thess. 5:13). Brethren, "do not quarrel on the
way."