Psalm 76:10
We can trace the truth of the above statement in the Scriptures, as well as in the happenings of the present time, in so far as they are in the line of the fulfilment of Scripture.
For instance take the Scriptural case of Joseph. As a lad of seventeen he twice had remarkable, God-given dreams, foreshadowing a wonderful future. His brethren were envious “Jealousy [envy] is cruel as the grave” (S.of Sol. 8:6).
And so it turned out. Joseph’s brethren threw him into a pit to die. They took his coat of many colours, dipped it in the blood of a goat, to deceive the old father at home that his loved son had been torn to pieces by a wild beast. God however, preserved his life, and he was sold into Egypt as a slave.
Years rolled by. Joseph, now about thirty years of age, is making himself known to his brethren. We all know the story leading up to this point Joseph was flung into an Egyptian prison because he refused to yield to the seductions of a temptress. Then by a strange combination of circumstances he is brought before Pharaoh, interprets that monarch’s remarkable dreams, and in the course of a few hours exchanges the languishment of the prison for a place of power, rule and organization, second only to Pharaoh himself.
The biting famine comes. Joseph’s brethren are driven to Egypt for supplies of food. Joseph makes himself known to them in the memorable words, “Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life” (Gen. 45:5).
Their wrath had sold Joseph into Egypt. God used their sin, to utilize Joseph as the super-organizer of the day to the saving of countless lives. There could be no condoning of the terrible sin of Joseph’s brethren against their brother, but it must have been very consoling to their accusing hearts to find that God used the wrath of man to praise Him.
Take the most wonderful example of all. The greatest crime this world has seen, or can see, is the murder of the Son of God. One, who only displayed love, whose life was spent in undoing the works of the devil, was done to death by the insensate hate of the religious leaders of the nation.
But God has used man’s blackest sin as an occasion for showing His great love to man. The cross was the occasion of man’s sin, the cross was the very place where atonement was made, which enables God in perfect righteousness to forgive sin. This is the instance above all others where God has made the wrath of men to praise Him.
Take two instances from modern times. We know how the fulfilment of prophecy centres round the Jew. As it has often been said; the Jew is the barometer of the world. We also know how the Scripture prophesies that the Jews will return to their own land in unbelief, pass through the great tribulation, and a remnant acknowledge the Lord as their Saviour, and Messiah.
God anticipates events. Things that happened many years ago may in the light of present day happenings be found to be divinely ordered with a foreknowledge that is startling to us. For instance, the Jews are largely congregated in the heart of Europe as the following table shows:
Germany contains about 643,000 Jews.
Poland contains about 2,829,000 Jews.
Russia contains about 2,626,000 Jews.
Romania contains about 834,000 Jews.
Hungary contains about 473,000 Jews.
Czechoslovakia contains about 354,000 Jews.
In total, 7,750,000 Jews.
France has only 165,000 Jews; Great Britain, 300,000; Italy, 46,000; Japan 500.
Yet the United States has 3,800,000, and New York city alone contains 1,750,000 Jews, one to every three or four of the population. How is this? We think it is a prominent illustration of our text that God makes the wrath of man to praise Him.
In 1880, that is over half a century ago, Russia passed some cruel laws, called the May Laws, which forced hundreds of thousands of Jews out of the country. Multitudes of them sought asylum in the United States. There they have taken root, and have become captains of commerce, and have made themselves wealthy. Today they are in a position to help their poorer countrymen to settle in Palestine. Surely God foresaw all this, and has made the wrath of man to praise Him.
Take a second case at the present time. The repeopling of Palestine by the Jews was proceeding at a comparatively slow rate. About 6,000 a year were admitted. One morning the civilized world was startled by the news of the stringent laws passed by Hitler against the Jews. A wave of intense anti-Semitism swept over Germany. The Jews, who were able, quickly fled from the country. The trains running to Holland and other parts, the ferry boats running to Denmark and Sweden were filled day after day with fleeing Jews. Many committed suicide.
It was their very prosperity that was their ruin. Numbering only three percent of the population in Germany, yet the Jews accounted for about eight percent of the legal, medical and other professions, besides their share in the manufacturing and commercial life of the country.
The whole of Jewry felt very insecure. In 1931 the immigrants to Palestine numbered 5,000. In the first half of 1932 the number, had risen to 15,000, and it was expected the second half of 1932 would witness a further 25,000 to 30,000 finding a home in Palestine. It is stated that three times, as many Jews went to Palestine from Poland in 1932 as in 1931. Moscow contains 250,000 Jews. By a new passport decree 150,000 of these are threatened with expulsion. It is said on good authority that 3,000,000 Jews are eager to settle in Palestine. No wonder! They feel how insecure they are in the lands they have long dwelt in. Palestine is the only land they can lay claim to. If they leave Germany or Russia or Poland, other countries will refuse them asylum. So Palestine is the spot they are seeking refuge in. Verily God makes the wrath of man to praise Him.
Finally God has been preparing for all this. The Dead Sea, 46 miles long by 8 to 10 miles wide, super-salted, has for centuries been a scene of desolation. No fishes can live in its waters, no bird can fly over its dreary wastes, no herbage grows round its shores.
But in these later years a change has taken place. We cull the following extract,
“THE DEAD SEA ALIVE AGAIN.
This is the description given of the new activities in the region of the Dead Sea. From its bitter and imprisoned waters mineral salts are being withdrawn. The lorries containing them are every day carrying them from the Dead Sea to Jerusalem. There they join the railway, from there are carried by sea to Europe, and more especially to England. For thousands of years the Dead Sea and its valley have been an abomination of desolation. Under the stimulus of modem British enterprise its potash helps to make other desert places blossom like the rose. Other mineral salts besides potash are in the recesses of the dark waters, and the men of this century can make use of them for medicines and for a dozen industries. The Dead Sea, fifty miles long, ten broad, is at some places 1,300 feet deep.”
Dr. Thos. H. Norton, Editor of Chemicals computes the value of chemical deposits. In the Dead Sea at 253 billion pounds. The contents are computed as follows:
Potassium Chloride 2,000,000,000 metric tons.
Sodium Chloride 1,000,000,000 metric tons.
Magnesium Chloride 22,000,000,000 metric tons.
Magnesium Bromide 980,000,000 metric tons.
Calcium Chloride 6,000,000,000 metric tons.
How, is it that all this fabulous wealth has lain unknown for centuries and has now startled the world by its late discovery? We believe this has been allowed of God, so that when money is needed in vast sums to finance the ever-increasing rush of population into the country it is forthcoming.
In the light of all these happenings can we not see events shaping as the fulfilment of Scripture? Do not our hearts thrill as all this tells us that the coming of the Lord draws near? God makes the wrath of man to praise Him.