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The Immutability of God
No. 1-1:1. A Sermon Delivered On Sunday Morning, January 7, 1855, By C. H. Spurgeon, At New Park Street Chapel, Southwark.
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19. Now then, how many of you have had personal manifestations? “Oh!” you say “that is enthusiasm; that is fanaticism.” Well, it is a blessed enthusiasm, too, for the sons of Jacob have had peculiar manifestations. They have talked with God as a man talks with his friend; they have whispered in the ear of Jehovah; Christ has been with them to sup with them, and they with Christ; and the Holy Spirit has shone into their souls with such a mighty radiance that they could not doubt about special manifestations. The “sons of Jacob” are the men, who enjoy these manifestations.
20. 4. Then again, they are men of peculiar trials. Ah! poor Jacob! I should not choose Jacob’s lot if I did not have the prospect of Jacob’s blessing; for a hard lot his was. He had to run away from his father’s house to Laban’s; and then that surly old Laban cheated him all the years he was there — cheated him of his wife, cheated him in his wages, cheated him in his flocks, and cheated him all through the story. By and by he had to run away from Laban, who pursued him and overtook him. Next came Esau with four hundred men to cut him up root and branch. Then there was a season of prayer, and afterwards he wrestled, and had to go all his life with his thigh out of joint. But a little further on, Rachel, his dear beloved, died. Then his daughter Dinah is led astray, and the sons murder the Shechemites. Later there is dear Joseph sold into Egypt, and a famine comes. Then Reuben goes up to his couch and pollutes it; Judah commits incest with his own daughter-in-law; and all his sons become a plague to him. At last Benjamin is taken away; and the old man, almost broken hearted, cries “Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and you will take Benjamin away.” Never was a man more tried than Jacob, all through the one sin of cheating his brother. All through his life God chastised him. But I believe there are many who can sympathise with dear old Jacob. They have had to pass through trials very much like his. Well, cross bearers! God says, “I do not change; therefore you sons of Jacob are not consumed.” Poor tried souls! you are not consumed because of the unchanging nature of your God. Now do not get fretting, and say, with the self-conceit of misery, “I am the man who has seen affliction.” Why “the Man of Sorrows” was afflicted more than you; Jesus was indeed a mourner. You only see the skirts of the garments of affliction. You never have trials like his. You do not understand what troubles mean; you have hardly sipped the cup of trouble; you have only had a drop or two, but Jesus drank the dregs. Fear not says God, “I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore you sons of Jacob,” men of peculiar trials, “are not consumed.”
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