IT is a happy thing to trust in God. A little boy, who really trusts in his father's love, never feels that his father grows tired of helping him; neither does he think, who truly trusts God, that God is or can be ever weary of caring for him. We may say, the greater the difficulty, the nearer God is to us. When all forsook St. Paul, and left him to answer his accusers alone before the Roman authorities, he said, "The Lord stood with me, and strengthened me." (2 Tim. 4:1717Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. (2 Timothy 4:17).) He found the Lord with him, giving him power, at that hour in a most distinct way. You may always count upon the Lord when you are suffering for Him.
But God expects faith from His people. This is the lesson the story of the king and the arrows, and his striking the ground, teaches us. Elisha was dying, and king Joash came to his house, and wept over him, for Elisha had been for several years the strength of Israel; his faith in God had brought them many a deliverance. Then Elisha bade the king open the window and shoot an arrow, and the prophet said, "The arrow of the Lord's deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria" (2 Kings 13:1717And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the Lord's deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them. (2 Kings 13:17)), showing the king how God would deliver Israel from the Syrians.
Having thus spoken, the prophet told the king to take the arrows, and to smite upon the ground. King Joash smote thrice, and stopped. Elisha, the man of God, was vexed at Joash's want of zeal, and told him he should have smitten five or six times, for then he would have completely conquered Syria, but as it was, he should gain but three victories.
How many of God's children are like king Joash—they begin well, and go on a certain way, and then stop—therefore they do not gain complete victory over their difficulties or spiritual enemies. It was this spirit in the king that made the prophet angry.
You have not Syrians to overcome, but each one of you, who believes, has something to conquer for God. To begin with, you can only succeed in His strength: so we say to you, first of all, "Come to our window and shoot your arrow.”
Away it flies, piercing the air, now it has fallen into the ground. 'What does the arrow signify? Just this. God is for you—He will deliver you—therefore you need not fear for any foe. This is bold ground to take up, but not too bold for the least child, who really believes God, and who does what God bids him.
All this we can tell you just as the prophet spoke to the king, but now you must show your faith for your own self. You must your own self smite upon the ground. How much faith have you? How much zeal for God? Ah! how we desire that there should grow up a band of earnest believing overcomers for God amongst our dear young readers. We cannot give you this zeal. Elisha did not tell Joash how often he should strike upon the ground, this was the king's own work, but Elisha was grieved when the king smote only thrice. How many of you shall we find by and bye, were those who God saw upon this earth truly and heartily devoted to Himself?