It is interesting to see how many passages there are in the Scriptures which speak of God’s protection of animals, even of those which are the least considerable. He takes care of the cattle of the fields; he feeds the young lions; he plants the cedars where the birds build their nests. “Behold the fowls of the air,” says the Saviour, “for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them.” It is not possible that he should take less care of man. Of all the existences on the earth, man stands the first, and God loves him most.
The Savior adds, for the comfort of those who heard him when speaking of God’s care of the birds, “Are ye not much better than they?” As much as if he had said, the God who provides for them cannot fail to provide for you, who are so much more important in his estimation. And, in another passage, he says, “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.”
Truly here is a great truth, worthy of our constant contemplation. Around every individual, no matter what may be his situation, is thrown the shield of the divine presence, love, and care. Every individual can say of himself, God is with me. He is not a God afar off. He knoweth my down-sitting and up-rising, my going out and my coming in. He not only knows, but he orders events concerning me.
Nor is there any limit to the divine presence and operation, except that which is interposed by unbelief. God will do all, operating in entire harmony with the laws of our mental constitution, if we only have faith enough to leave ourselves entirely in his hands, and let him do all. He will not, in the present state of things, so interpose and extend his own action as to prevent the concurrence of ours. But, nevertheless, he will unite the two in such a manner that we shall recognize every good thing as coming from him. In reference to the daily support received from him, we shall be ready to say, with an eminent English writer, who had passed through many vicissitudes and trials, “I have been fed more by miracle than Elijah when the angels were his purveyors.” [Daniel Defoe.]
Thomas Cogswell Upham — A Treatise on Divine Union (1851) Part 6, Chapter 1.
This post can found at The Hidden Life blog by Craig L Adams
