It was customary that the saints of old attribute all things to Jehovah their God. Israel’s bondage and afflictions in Egypt were ‘the Lord’s doings,’ said the Psalmist in Psalm 66. “Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men” (v.5). “For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried. Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins. Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.” (v’s 10-12). The common idea that God is the cause of all good and Satan is the cause of all bad was foreign to the saints of old. They did not blame their affliction on Satan, or attribute it to a ‘streak of bad-luck.’ They testified that God did it. When Paul and his companions attempted to preach while traveling through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden. Again when “they tried to go into Bithynia but were hindered;” he did not blame the problem on the devil, but confessed the Holy Ghost was to blame. “Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not” (Acts 16:6-7). Paul knew that his mission to preach the gospel was entirely in the hand of God and waited patiently for Divine direction. One of the greatest, if not the greatest, peace of mind psychology for the believer is simply stated in Psalm 31:15, “My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.” The great truth is this—all that concerns the believer is in the hands of the Almighty God. “My times,” change and shift; but they change only in accordance with unchanging love, and they shift; only according to the purpose of One with whom is no variableness or shadow of turning. “My times,” that is to say, my ups and my downs, my health and my sickness, my poverty and my wealth—all those are in the hand of the Lord, who arranges and appoints according to His holy will the length of my days, and the darkness of my nights. Storms and calms vary the seasons at the divine appointment. Whether times are reviving or depressing remains with Him who is Lord both of time and of eternity; and we are glad it is so. How came my times to be thus in God’s hand? They were there in the order of nature, according to the eternal purpose and decree of God. All things are ordained of God, and are settled by Him, according to His wise and holy predestination. Whatsoever happens here happens not by chance, but according to the eternal counsel of the Most High.
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