has shielded the sinner from receiving the full measure of his guilt ; but in the final judgment , wrath is poured out unmixed with mercy . In that day , multitudes will desire the shelter of God ' s mercy which they have so long despised . " Behold , the days come , saith the Lord God , that I will send a famine in the land , not a famine of bread , nor a thirst for water , but of hearing the words of the Lord : and they shall wander from sea to sea , and from the north even to the east , they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord , and shall not find it ." Amos 8:11 , 12 .
The people of God will not be free from suffering ; but while persecuted and distressed , while they endure privation and suffer for want of food they will not be left to perish . That God who cared for Elijah will not pass by one of His self-sacrificing children . He who numbers the hairs of their head will care for them , and in time of famine they shall be satisfied . While the wicked are dying from hunger and pestilence , angels will shield the righteous and supply their wants . To him that " walketh righteously " is the promise : " Bread shall be given him ; his waters shall be sure ." " When the poor and needy seek water , and there is none , and their tongue faileth for thirst , I the Lord will hear them , I the God of Israel will not forsake them ." Isaiah 33:15 , 16 ; 41:17 .
" Although the fig tree shall not blossom , neither shall fruit be in the vines ; the labour of the olive shall fail , and the fields shall yield no meat ; the flock shall be cut off from the fold , and there shall be no herd in the stalls ;" yet shall they that fear Him " rejoice in the Lord " and joy in the God of their salvation . Habakkuk 3:17 , 18 . " The Lord is thy keeper : the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand . The sun shall not smite thee by day , nor the moon by night . The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil : He shall preserve thy soul ." " He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler , and from the noisome pestilence . He shall cover thee with His fathers , and under His wings shalt thou trust : His truth shall be thy shield and buckler . Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night ; nor for the arrow that flieth by day ; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness ; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday . A thousand shall fall at thy side , and ten thousand at thy right hand ; but it shall not come nigh thee . Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked . Because thou hast made the Lord , which is my refuge , even the Most High , thy habitation ; there shall no evil befall thee , neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling ." Psalms 121:5-7 ; 91:3- 10 .
Yet to human sight it will appear that the people of God must soon seal their testimony with their blood as did the martyrs before them . They themselves begin to fear that the Lord has left them to fall by the hand of their enemies . It is a time of fearful agony . Day and night they cry unto God for deliverance . The wicked exult , and the jeering cry is heard : " Where now is your faith ? Why does not God deliver you out of our hands if you are indeed His people ?" But the waiting ones remember Jesus dying upon Calvary ' s cross and the chief priests and rulers shouting in mockery : " He saved others ; Himself He cannot save . If He be the King of Israel , let Him now come down from the cross , and we will believe Him ." Matthew 27:42 . Like Jacob , all are wrestling with God . Their
397