IN the nineteenth century, less than one hundred years ago, there lived a man by the name of David Livingstone. He spent the greater part of his life in Africa, exploring the unknown regions and telling the heathen the good news of salvation.
A person going about among savages as Livingstone did, is exposed to many dangers and is often preserved from harm and death only by the care and intervention of God.
On one occasion the king of a savage tribe sent messengers to Livingstone asking him to return with them to their king. But Livingstone refused to go. The messengers were sent a second time and still he refused. The third time they went, he consented to go with them.
But as they journeyed they came to a place in which there were some wild beasts. The messengers were very much afraid of these and did not dare to go further. So they all turned and went back.
Livingstone found out afterward that the savage king had sent for him in order that he might kill him. But the
Lord was watching over Livingstone and in His own way defeated the purpose of the wicked king.
This incident will help to explain the verse, “A man’s heart deviseth his way; but the Lord directeth his steps.” Proverbs 16:99A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps. (Proverbs 16:9). Livingstone had decided to go to the king but the Lord directed his steps otherwise in order to save his life.
“Devise” means plan. Very often we plan to do certain things, and the Lord interferes with our plans and directs our steps in a way that we are not expecting and perhaps do not like, but a way that He knows is best for us. Often when the Lord hinders our plans and leads us in His own way, it is to save us from danger, or to dons good in some way. Sometimes it is that we may be left or placed where we can do good to others.
Let us not murmur then, if our plans be upset. We know it is the Lord that directs our steps, and He will always lead us in the best way.
ML 07/26/1903