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I. WHAT WE ARE TO UNDERSTAND BY "THE WORK OF GOD." This is an expression often used in the Scriptures, and has different significations. In one place it refers to the two tables of stone, containing the Ten Commandments, written by the finger of God and given to Moses. In another to the reception of the Lord Jesus Christ by faith (John 6:29, 80). In a third to the progress of the Gospel, and to the influence of the Holy Spirit in the heart, by which a radical change is effected, and holy tempers produced (Romans 14:20). In the text it is evidently used to point out to us the infinitely wise arrangement of all the situations and circumstances of the sons of men: that the bounds of their habitation are marked out by Him to whom all things in earth and heaven owe their existence.

II. THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF ALTERING OR DEFEATING THE PURPOSES OF GOD. To prove this, might I not refer to the experience and observation of all people? Our fields may be cultivated with all imaginable care — we may sow the best corn that can be procured — but if the will of the Lord be so, we can reap nothing but disappointment. If He designs to chastise a guilty people by sending a famine upon them, lie can make a worm, or a dew, hail, storm, or lightning, to blast man's hope in a moment, and to teach him that except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it; and that except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain (Psalm 127:1). If it be His will to fill a sinner with remorse of conscience, He can make him cry out with Cain, My punishment is greater than I can bear — or with Joseph's brethren, when they imagined that vengeance was about to overtake them, We are verily guilty concerning our brother — or with Judas, I have sinned, in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. All hearts are in His hand; His power rules over all; none can stay that hand or resist successfully that power.

III. THE DUTY INCUMBENT ON MAN TO BE SATISFIED WITH HIS LOT. A sinner by nature and practice, man deserves no blessing from his Maker — he can lay no claim to a continuance of present mercies, nor has he in himself any ground to hope for fresh ones — of course everything he enjoys is unmerited. Is it for such a being as this to be dissatisfied with what he possesses, because others possess more? Is it for him to think that he is hardly dealt with, while oppressed by pain, sickness; hunger or thirst — when a moment's reflection ought to convince him that anything short of hell is a blessing? The heart must be changed by the grace of God before it can rejoice in tribulation — and testify that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and it is through the belief of the Gospel that this change is effected.

IV. CONSIDERATION IS AN IMPORTANT AND PLAINLY ENJOINED DUTY — and when we take into account the character of man, and the distractions produced in his mind by visible things, its necessity is quite apparent. Let us then consider that we are not called upon to account for the Lord's dealings, or to make the vain attempt of reconciling the seeming contrarieties in the Divine administration. If clouds and darkness are round about Him, we may yet be sure that righteousness and judgment are the habitation of His throne. His servants will one day understand, as far as is necessary, everything which now appears dark and perplexing, and in the mean season they are called to live by faith — to "take no thought for the morrow" — to "commit their ways unto Him," and to be satisfied with the assurance that "the Judge of all the earth does right."

(P. Roe, M. A.)

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KJV: Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?

WEB: Consider the work of God, for who can make that straight, which he has made crooked?