June 28, Evening
C. H. Spurgeon · Modern retelling
"But Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods." — Exodus 7:12 · KJV
This incident is an instructive picture of the certain victory of God's own work over every opposition. Whenever a divine principle is planted in the heart, the enemy may manufacture a counterfeit and raise up swarms of opponents, but as surely as God is in the work, it will swallow up all its foes. If God's grace takes possession of a man, the world's magicians may throw down all their rods, and every rod may be as clever and as poisonous as a serpent, yet Aaron's rod will swallow up their rods. The sweet attraction of the cross will woo and win that man's heart, and one who used to live only for this deceitful earth will now have an eye for higher things and a wing to rise into the heights of heaven. When grace has carried the day, the worldly man begins to seek the world to come. The same thing shows up all through the believer's life. What crowds of enemies our faith has had to face! Our old sins were thrown down in front of us and turned into serpents. What hosts of them there were! Yet the cross of Jesus destroys them all; faith in Christ makes short work of every one. Then the enemy releases another host of serpents in the shape of worldly troubles, temptations, and unbelief, but faith in Jesus is more than their match and overcomes them all. This same absorbing power shines out in faithful service to God. Where there is a wholehearted love for Jesus, difficulties are climbed over, sacrifices turn into pleasures, and sufferings become honors. But if true religion is such a consuming passion in the heart, then it follows that many people profess it without possessing it, for what they hold will not stand this test. Examine yourself on this point, my reader. Aaron's rod proved the power heaven had given it. Is your religion proving the same? If Christ is anything, He must be everything. O do not rest until love and faith in Jesus are the ruling passions of your soul!