Affliction may be continuous and severe. Bread and water are the
prominent things in the sustenance of life. Day by day reserved. Few,
if any, are entirely exempt from affliction. Periods of difficulty
and privation, when weeks and months of consuming anxiety are
experienced. Losses which seriously incommode and cripple their
business. Troubles in the family, sometimes from the conduct of those
most loved. Bereavements which rend the heart. Sickness, accident,
consuming disease, and excruciating pain wear life slowly away.
The godly are not exempted. The infected atmosphere may poison the
saint as well as the sinner. If a good man falls over a precipice he
will be killed. "The same hurricane may equally swamp the vessel
which is filled with pirates and that which is filled by a band of
devoted missionaries." If a Christian neglect his business, or
conduct it on unsound principles, he must expect insolvency. He may
conduct it with perfect commercial wisdom and care and yet be
overtaken by disasters from causes beyond his control.
But it does not happen by chance. There is no such thing as fate. We
recognise the hand of the Lord. "Though _the Lord_ give you the bread
of affliction and the water of adversity." In this truth is help for
believers perplexed by the mystery of sorrow. It throws their
thoughts on God. And they have such confidence in Him that is a
resting-place. We do not know, we never can know, the evils He
prevents. When He permits or sends trouble we may rest assured that
there is a sufficient reason (Lam. iii. 33).
What are the reasons?[2] We may mistake their application, but they
are such as these: 1. It is sometimes _punitive._ God has established
a connection between sin and suffering. The former always works
towards the latter. The chain of connection may be so subtle, and may
extend so far back, that we cannot follow it. Yet such a chain there
is. When affliction comes, it is useful to trace the chain, and
ascertain, if we can, wherefore the Lord is contending with us. 2. It
is sometimes _corrective._ He deals with us as men deal with their
children (Heb. xii. 5-11). It is not that He may vent His anger, but
recall them to their better selves. He means it as the refiner means
the fire into which he casts the gold (Ps. cxix. 67). 3. It is
sometimes _auxiliary._ The means to an end. The dark way into light.
It is necessary to some advantage which could not be reached without
it. Joseph's slavery and imprisonment were the steps to his
subsequent greatness. Jesus reached the crown by the cross. Perhaps
you can illustrate from your own experience.