Am I in God's Stead?

 

And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel; and he said, am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb? Gen. 30:2

All our mercies are to be traced up to our God, and all our miseries to ourselves. We are constantly making ourselves wretched, by departing from our God, or by putting creatures in His place.

We often put persons and things in God's stead in reference to our affections, loving them inordinately; in reference to our dependence, trusting them instead of Him; in reference to our worship, idolizing them instead of adoring Him; and in reference to our expectations, expecting them to relieve, comfort, or deliver instead of Him.

But insufficiency is written upon every created object. No creature can fill the place of Jehovah, take the richest - the wisest - the kindest - the nearest relative or friend, and you must exclaim, "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." But Jehovah can fill the place of all; He can be instead of Father, Husband, Child, Wealth, Health, yea, of all things.

Creatures may say, Am I in God's stead? If not, why look to me? why depend on me? why expect from me? why grieve so to part with me? Am I in God's stead? If so, He will remove me, or I shall disappoint you.

Heavenly Adam, life divine,
Change my nature into Thine :
Move and spread throughout my soul,
Actuate and fill the whole.
Now my fainting soul revive,
There for ever walk and live.

The Believer's Daily Remembrancer by James Smith