“Behind the dim unknown
Standeth God within the shadow
Keeping watch above his own.”
We plan–and plan: “This shall be so–and so.”
“This shall I do,” and, “Thither shall I go.”
Yet, as the hours shape themselves to days,
We tread not in those same self chose ways;
Our feet are led ‘long paths we had not guessed,
And lo! We find those newer paths are best!
Men do not have the last word in this world’s affairs. The human hand is not omnipotent. Forty men had bound themselves in a conspiracy to kill St. Paul, and they were sure their plot could not fail. But a boy heard of the conspiracy, and the apostle was rescued. By nine o’clock that night he was on his way to Caesarea, under strong military protection. The forty men had every thing in their favour, but – they had not thought about God. If it had not been for God, their plot would have succeeded.
Not to take account of God in our plans is folly. Dr. Howard Agnew Johnston tells of a conversation he had with a well known manufacturer during a journey to Europe. They were talking of missions, and reference was made to India. The business man said, “Why, Doctor, it will be ten thousand years before India becomes Christian.” “Do you not think you are drawing a hard line on God?” asked the minister. “Oh, I forgot about him,” was the reply. “Then,” said Dr. Johnston, “you can make it ten million years, if you leave him out.”
That is what men are doing all the time. They forget about God in making their plans and calculations. These forty men never thought of God’s interfering in their conspiracy. They forgot all about him. There are people today who laugh at our belief in God. They tell us that the hopes we cherish never can be realized, that we are only believing dreams. What they say would be true if there were no God. Human skill, wisdom, or power never could bring these glorious things to pass. If there were no God, not one hope of our Christian faith could find its fulfillment. But there is a God, a God of love, of power, and he is the hearer of prayer.
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