The way, path, and footsteps of God

I. God’s way is in the sea. The affairs of life are in many cases manifestly beyond our own control; it is true, that much of the evil that befalls us is owing to our own improvidence; and to all appearance, our own energy and foresight have much to do with success in our career; still, are there not abundant fluctuations and changes, all of which tell us that we are not the masters even of our own affairs? Ask any one who has had much experience of life, and he will tell you that, like the ocean, it is full of changes and of storms. Nor are God’s children exempt from these; their experience of life is the same as that of others: they are carried by these storms where they would not be; and where they would be, thither they cannot go. Now, for us it should ever be sufficient, that we know “His way is in the sea.”

II. God’s path is in the great waters. He not only acts, but does so according to a fixed and definite plan, His course of action being spoken of as a “path.” Now, we know well that when men navigate the sea, they must do so by a compass and a chart; that they cannot expect to find a path upon the waters within the bounds of which they are to sail; but God has His own path marked out, and He sees it as plainly amid all fluctuations, and despite all enemies, as we do the track of an ordinary road.

III. God’s footsteps and not known. “What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter,” is said to us, even as it was to the disciples of old. There are times when it must be enough for us simply to know that He is acting, and that on our behalf, and for our good. At such seasons we must pre-eminently “walk by faith, and not by sight.” He chooses that the method of His dealings should be hidden, and we have no right to urge Him to withdraw the veil. And how often has there been a footstep of God where we have not discerned it! We had an illness, or a bereavement, or a disappointment, or a loss; the world said, “How unfortunate!” but God passed our way; the world could not see His foot-print--blessed were we if we could. (P. B. Power, M. A.)