THE GLORIOUS RIGHT HAND OF THE LORD – Charles Spurgeon
The Glorious Right Hand of the Lord
Introduction
“And the Lord said unto Moses, Is the Lord’s hand waxed short? You shall now see whether My word shall come to pass unto you or not.” Numbers 11:23.
God had made a positive promise to Moses that He would feed the vast host in the wilderness with flesh for a whole month. Moses, overwhelmed by a moment of unbelief, began to consider the outward means—calculating his provisions—and was at a loss to understand how the promise could be fulfilled. How could this happen? Would the flocks and herds be slaughtered? And if so, how could they sustain themselves with enough cattle to settle the land they hoped to enter? Even if they slaughtered all their beasts, would there be enough food to satisfy the hunger of such a large crowd for an entire month? Could the fish of the sea come out of the water to feed the multitude? Moses doubted, thinking there might not even be enough food in such a scenario.
The Mistake of Moses
It’s easy to see the mistake Moses made. He was looking to the creature, not the Creator. Does the Creator expect the creature to fulfill His promise? No—only He who creates fulfills. When God speaks, it is done by Him alone. His promises do not depend on the frailty of human strength. As a sovereign, God makes promises that He can fulfill without error, because He is omnipotent. Looking to the sea for fish, or to the flocks for food, is a misunderstanding. Instead, we should wait upon Heaven for the promise, and believe that God, who owns the cattle on a thousand hills, will provide.
Imagine, for a moment, if you were to say that our land could never be protected from an invading power, because the leaders of foreign nations are weak. This would be absurd. The troops of Britain are there to defend the land, not foreign troops. And yet, we often do the same in our faith. God has promised to supply our needs, but we often look to the creature, to the means, to fulfill what only God can do. When we see the weakness of the creature, we fall into unbelief. Why look to the weak for strength, or to the creature to do the Creator’s work?
The True Ground of Faith
The ground of faith is not found in the sufficiency of visible means, but in the all-sufficiency of the invisible God, who is certain to fulfill His promises. If we continue in unbelief, the question posed by God comes home to us powerfully: “Has the Lord’s hand waxed short?” We are reminded that God’s power is not diminished.
The Evidence of God’s Power in Creation
If we look at creation, there is no sign that would suggest God’s hand has waxed short. Has the pillar of the heavens begun to reel? Has the sky been torn or worn? Have the foundations of the earth shaken? No. The earth stands firm, as God ordained it. The sun has not dimmed with age, nor have the stars flickered or gone out. The earth is full of vitality, ready to yield harvests, and nature continues to follow God’s design. The oceans still roar, and the forces of nature still assert their strength. The very earth continues as it did when God first said, “Let there be light.” There is no sign that God’s power has waned.
God’s Providence and Grace
Look at God’s providence. Are His prophecies still being fulfilled? Does He continue to work all things together for good? Does He neglect to supply the needs of the creatures He has made? The cattle do not cry out for hunger, and we do not find the remains of starving birds or fish. The bounty of God is evident everywhere. Is He less bounteous today than in the days of Adam? No. The cornucopia of His blessings continues to overflow, and His mercies are lavishly scattered. In both providence and creation, God remains omnipotent and faithful to His promises.
Now, consider God’s grace. Are sinners still saved? Are the degenerate still reclaimed? Are those who were once drunkards lifted up to sit with princes? Is the Word of God still powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword? Has any of God’s promises failed? No. God’s grace is as abundant as His creation and providence, and He remains faithful to His word.
The Sin of Doubting God
So, where does the question “Has the Lord’s hand waxed short?” come from? It originates only from one creature: man. The sparrows don’t doubt God. They have no barns, no fields, yet they sing at night, trusting that God will provide for them. Even the cattle trust Him, and when they are thirsty, they expect to find water. The angels never doubt, and the devils believe and tremble. But man, the most favored of all creatures, is the one who doubts his Creator. It is this sin, the sin of doubting God, that dishonors Him and tarnishes His glory.
Cases of Doubt: The Church and Believers
Let us now consider four or five cases where we, as believers, act as if God’s hand has waxed short, starting with the Church as a whole. The Church often behaves as though it questions whether God is still able to move mightily in the world. She believes that God once worked wonders through simple preaching, bringing 3,000 people to salvation in a single day. She believes that in the past, uneducated preachers were able to defeat the gods of the heathen. Yet, today, the Church often acts as if the gospel is feeble and outdated, and that the Spirit has withdrawn.
In earlier days, missionaries went forth without purse or script, trusting God to provide for their needs. They ventured into unknown territories, facing danger and death, but they won the world for Christ. Today, however, many are afraid to trust God. There are those who would keep the gospel from reaching India for fear of upsetting the political balance, and others who believe that civilization must precede the cross. The mass of Christians today would not go out into the world trusting God for provision. They insist on seeing everything prepared in advance, and they lack the boldness of those who once went out to spread the gospel with nothing but faith in God. The church often trusts in the means of men rather than the arm of God.
However, there are still many missionaries who have gone out by faith, with no visible means of support, trusting God alone. I know of some who have proven that God is faithful to His promises. These missionaries have seen God provide for them in ways that confirm His word. They have been more successful in their ministries because they truly believed God and acted on that belief. Yet, many in the Church still trust more in the resources of men than in the power of God. The Church must return to a place of simple confidence in God’s promises, and when she does, she will see great things accomplished for His Kingdom.
Doubt in the Lives of Believers
Now, let us move on to the second case: when believers doubt God with regard to providence. Many of us have faced trials, financial struggles, or have been out of work for long periods of time. When faced with these hardships, it is easy to wonder whether God will fulfill His promises. It is hard to see how God will provide when everything seems bleak, but this is the moment to remember God’s faithfulness. He has promised to provide for us, to be our defense and our sustenance, even in times of hardship. We must trust in His word, knowing that He will never fail to fulfill His promises.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we must ask ourselves, “Has the Lord’s hand waxed short?” The answer is clear: no. God is as powerful today as He was when He created the heavens and the earth. His promises are as sure now as they were in the past. It is only we, as His children, who sometimes doubt His power and faithfulness. Let us put away our unbelief and trust in the all-sufficiency of the invisible God. He will fulfill His word, and we will see His promises come to pass.
The Glorious Right Hand of the Lord
Introduction to Divine Provision
“Yet your heavenly Father feeds them.” “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They toil not, neither do they spin, and yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” And so, do you think that your heavenly Father, though He knows you have need of these things, will forget you? When not a sparrow falls to the ground without your Father, and the very hairs of your head are all numbered, will you still mistrust and doubt Him?
Trusting in God’s Provision
Perhaps your affliction will continue until you dare to trust your God. When you do, it will end. Many have been sorely tried, vexed, and pressed down, until finally, in sheer desperation, they exercised faith in God—and at that very moment, their deliverance came. They saw whether God would keep His promise or not.
Now, consider this illustration, O believer. In the cold winter, when snow thickly coats every tree and the ground is hard and crisp, you have seen a charitable man open the window of his house and scatter crumbs on the snow. The birds come from all around and are satisfied. Now imagine a slanderer from next door accusing this man of starving his children. Would you believe him? He feeds the birds, but neglects his own children? Of course not. Instinctively, you understand that a kind heart that remembers the birds of heaven must certainly care even more for his own offspring.
God’s Care for His People
What about you, then? If your God hears the young ravens when they cry, and gives liberally to all the creatures He has made, will He forget His sons and daughters? His people, bought with blood, His own peculiar heritage? No, He will not. Dare to believe Him now. His hands have not waxed short. Do not please Satan or vex yourself by indulging those hard thoughts of Him any longer. Say, “My Father, You will hear my cry. You will supply all my needs.” And according to your faith, so shall it be done unto you.
Reflecting on God’s Faithfulness
Look back upon the past. How many times has God delivered you? Have you ever been in a situation as dire as the present, and did He leave you then? He has been with you through six troubles, and aren’t there six arguments why He shouldn’t leave you in the seventh? You are growing gray, and yet you have found Him faithful for sixty years. Suppose you live to seventy—there are only ten years left. He has been faithful to you for sixty, so can you not trust Him for the remaining ten?
Surely, if you are actuated by the right spirit, you must say, “O God, I leave all things in Your hands. I will lay aside these cares and trust You. I know You love me, and will not forsake Your own, but will surely deliver me from all temptations.” You shall have the fulfillment of the promise: “You shall now see whether My word shall come to pass unto you or not.”
Doubts Regarding Final Perseverance
The third way this question arises is when a man who has faith in Christ is exercised with doubts and fears regarding his own final perseverance or his present acceptance in Christ. I must confess, with sorrow, that I have experienced times of despondency and depression, which I hope none of you are called to suffer. During these times, I have doubted my interest in Christ, my calling, my election, my perseverance, my Savior’s blood, and my Father’s love. I apologize for sharing this with you, but having done so on one occasion, I make my humble apology before God.
A brother who lives very near to God—whom I believe to be one of the holiest men alive—told me that he never doubts his acceptance with Christ once he believed in Him. Another Christian confirmed this testimony. I do not question their truth, but I envy them. It is a wonderful position to be in. They live by simple faith upon the Son of God. One of them said to me, “When I speak to some of the friends and tell them they should not doubt and fear, they say, ‘Yes, but our minister has doubts and fears.’” When he said that, I felt how wrong I had been, because the pastor should be an example to the flock.
The Harm of Doubting God
If I were to stand here and say, “I occasionally steal my neighbor’s goods,” you would be shocked. But when I said I sometimes doubt my God, you were not shocked. There is as much guilt in the one as in the other. There is the highest degree of criminality in doubting God. I do not see that we should offer any excuse for our doubts. God does not deserve our doubt—He is a true and faithful God. With so many instances of His love and kindness toward us, we have no excuse to doubt Him.
It was a wicked sin, a great offense, and I pray that I may be delivered from it entirely. I want an unstaggering faith, like Abraham, knowing that what God has promised, He is able also to perform. I trust that I will not have under my care a weak, doubting church, but a strong host of believers who live by faith upon the Son of God, who loved them and gave Himself for them. These believers will be a mighty army, marching to victory in the power of their faith.
The Sin of Unbelief
Do not follow my example in doubting God, but pray for me that my faith may increase. Doubt not, I implore you. Believe your God, and you shall prosper. The joy of the Lord is our strength, not the melancholy of our hearts. It does not say, “He who doubts shall be saved,” but, “He who believes shall be saved.” Some ministers preach doubts and fears so much that you might think doubting is the way to heaven. But the truth is, the children of God do doubt and fear. I am sorry to say this, but it is sin. Unbelief is the most damnable of sins, because it dishonors God and makes the enemy blaspheme.
The Guilt of Doubting God’s Promise
When we doubt, it is sin. Oh, cursed sin of unbelief! It stains God’s honor and gives the enemy grounds to blaspheme. “There,” they say, “there is a man who cannot trust his God. A minister who cannot trust his God. A Christian who cannot repose upon the promise of the Almighty!” While all sins are vile, doubting God is among the most heinous. If unbelief is like a thistle in the field, we should not sow thistle seeds ourselves. Instead, let the Holy Spirit plant the evergreen fir of hope, the towering pine of love, and the hardy boxwood of faith in our hearts!
Trusting the Lord
Trust in the Lord! “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, rejoice.” Let your joy be full. Do not be cast down or troubled. Rejoice in Him evermore.
Conviction of Sin and Trusting Christ
I now move on to the fourth point, though briefly: “Is the Lord’s hand waxed short?” This question is relevant to those who are convicted of sin but are afraid to trust their souls into the hands of a loving Savior. You might say, “Oh, He cannot save me; I am so guilty, so callous. If only I could repent as I should, if only I could feel as I ought, then He could save me. But I am poor, miserable, and naked. How can He clothe, enrich, and bless me? I am cast out from His presence. I have grieved away His Spirit. I have sinned against light and knowledge. He cannot save me.”
The Power of Christ’s Sacrifice
But remember the words, “The Lord’s hand is not waxed short.” Did He not save Saul of Tarsus, the chief of sinners? Why, then, can He not save you? “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” Has His blood lost its power? Are His merits no longer effective before the Father’s throne? No! Christ’s sacrifice is still powerful, and His plea before God is as strong as ever.
The Call to Believe
Soul, would you add to your sin by doubting Christ’s power to save you? Would you seal your doom by distrusting Him? But would you be saved? Then trust in Him now. Look to the cross, and say, “Jesus, I believe! Help my unbelief.” Come, poor sinner, with all your guilt and sorrow, and find Christ just as He promised. “Him who comes to Me, I will in no wise cast out.”
Christ’s Invitation to the Lost
Even if you feel like the lowest of sinners, Christ’s invitation remains: “Him who comes to Me, I will in no wise cast out.” If you come, weeping and mourning for your sins, you will find Christ faithful to His word. He will take away your heart’s hardness and remove your guilt.
A Call to the Prodigal
Prodigal, your Father sees you! Come to Him, and He will meet you with open arms. He will clothe you, make a banquet for you, and celebrate your return. Come to Him, empty and in need, and He will fill you with His grace.
Conclusion: The Importance of Faith
Finally, I have one last point. Many people claim that preachers love to talk about damnation and the fires of hell. I can say with sincerity that this is an unfounded libel. I have preached stern sermons, but they have always been from a heart of deep sorrow. God’s justice is as real as His mercy. The time is coming when all will see whether His word will come to pass or not.
To those who reject Christ and His salvation, you will see in the end that God’s hand is not waxed short. Just as God has the power to save, He also has the power to punish. Go on rejecting Christ, and you will see whether His word will come to pass in your life or not. But when you do see, it will be too late for escape.
Final Words of Warning
Where will your infidelity be then, when the fire of God’s judgment consumes you? Where will your mocking words be when the storm of His wrath falls upon you? Come, then, while there is still time. Trust in Christ today. May God add His blessing for Jesus’ sake!
“From where, then, shall doubts and fears arise? Why trickling sorrows drown our eyes? Slowly, alas, our mind receives The comfort that our Maker gives. Oh for a strong, a lasting faith, To credit what the Almighty says! To embrace the message of His Son, And call the joys of heaven our own! Then should the earth’s old pillars shake, And all the wheels of nature break, Our steady souls should fear no more Than solid rocks when billows roar! Our everlasting hopes arise Above the venerable skies, Where the eternal Builder reigns, And His own courts His power sustains.”