J.A. Matteson
Child of God, where is the LORD in your suffering? You have cried out to Him in anguish, waves of sorrow have covered you, and your petition for relief appears to fall on deaf ears as your affliction continues. Does the LORD see? Is He aware of your plight? Does He regard your suffering? "The LORD said, 'I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and have given heed to their cry because of their taskmasters, for I am aware of their sufferings" (Ex. 3:7). The LORD is intimately acquainted with the circumstances of His people, engaging them according to the dictates of His covenant. The children of Israel had been oppressed for four hundred years (Gen. 15:13-14). Consider how many generations lived and died without seeing the promise of their deliverance from bondage? They prayed for deliverance and their suffering persisted for generations. The timeline for God's intervention was predicated by covenant, not specific daily circumstances. His glory was established through Israel's suffering and the climax of their final release. Certainly the living generation of the exodus witnessed the mighty arm of the LORD through His miraculous delivery. But what about prior generations who where born as slaves and died as slaves? Their lives were miserable and hard. Sometimes it is God's will that suffering continue, not because He is uncaring, but a greater deliverance is purposed ultimately. And like the Savior the people of God learn obedience through suffering. For to learn obedience is to grow in faith. And faith does not disappoint, but results in life eternal. We may glory in suffering knowing that it establishes and proves faith, that which is given by grace to His people.
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