Ease and release from persecution and affliction come not by chance,
or by the good moods and gentle dispositions of men; but the Lord
doth hold them back from sin, the Lord restraineth them. 2 Chron.
18:31.
"And he stayed yet other seven days." It is not God's way with his
people to show them all their troubles at once, but first he shows
them a part: first, forty days, after that, seven other days, and
yet again, seven days more; that coming upon them by piecemeal, they
may the better be able to travel through them. When Israel was in
affliction in Egypt, they knew not the trial which would meet them
at the Red sea. Again, when they had gone through that, they little
thought that yet for forty years they must be tempted and proved in
the wilderness.
"And Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked;" the failing
again of his expected comforter caused him to be up and doing.
Probably he had not as yet uncovered the ark, that is, to look round
about him, if the dove, by returning, had pleased his humor; but she
failing, he stirs up himself.
Thus it should also be with the Christian now. Doth the dove forbear
to come to thee with a leaf in her bill as before? Let not this make
thee sullen and mistrustful, but uncover the ark and look; and by
looking, thou shalt see a further testimony of what thou receivest
by the first manifestations.
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