AFFLICTED WITH THE AFFLICTED

Isaiah 63:9

Morning Meditation 12/28/2012

"In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old."

There are so many hurting people. The word "affliction" translates "tsarah" and means, "straits, distress, trouble." The word "afflicted" means, "narrow, tight, straits, distress."

God is addressing His people and making them aware that He enters in to their afflictions with them. Can you imagine God getting in a tight or being distressed? Yet this is what our text says. Our text adds, "and the angel of his presence saved them." Considering the spiritual condition of Israel at the time, it had to be grace that stepped in and delivered them.

Then our text adds, "in his love and in his pity he redeemed them," which gives the motive for God's help and deliverance. God loves His people. He also pities them. The word "pity" can also be translated "compassion." God is compassionate toward His people. Even though we may be totally to blame for the affliction, the distress, and the trouble we are in, He still love us and is compassionate toward us.

All of this comes at a time when many Christians feel that God is far away and knows nothing of their affliction. This attitude toward God happens many times:

1. Because when we pray, the affliction is not removed all at once. This tempts us to believe if the afflictions are removed gradually they would have been removed if they had not prayed.

2. Because we are not exercising faith in His written Revelation, i.e., the Word of God. Hebrews 4:15-16, "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

3. Because we do not see that what is happening to us for our good and His glory; Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

4. Because the eyes of our faith are dim and we cannot see the invisible; Hebrews 11:27, "By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible." We need to anoint our eyes with eye salve that we may see; Revelation 3:18, "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see."

God has made great promises to us and it is a failure of our faith that we do not see these promises fulfilled. There are two things about faith that are very important:

1. First, we do not look at our problem through God's eyes, i.e., from God's standpoint. Nothing can happen to us that God does not allow. Job is a good illustration. And all of us know the important things God had in mind when He allowed Job to suffer affliction at the hands of Satan. Who won out in the book of Job?

2. Second, we are not very good at suffering. Yet a part of the Christian life includes suffering; When Paul was converted and the Lord gave Ananias the commission to go to where Paul was and baptize him, Ananias was reluctant. But this is what God said to Ananias: Acts 9:15-16, "But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake." None of us like to suffer but sometimes it is God's will for us to suffer.

God was not only afflicted with Israel in their afflictions, He is also afflicted with us in our afflictions. Never think for one moment that God is not involved intimately in our afflictions.

May God bless these words to our hearts.

In Christ

Bro. White