Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

July 20– Evening

by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and edited by W. C. Neff

“What now do you gain by going to Egypt to drink the waters of Sihor.'”

—Jeremiah 2:18

By various miracles, by many mercies, by strange deliverances Jehovah had proved himself to be worthy of Israel’s trust. Yet they broke down the hedges with which God had enclosed them as a sacred garden. They turned away from the true and living God and followed false gods. Constantly the Lord reproved them for this infatuation, and our text contains one instance of God’s questioning accusation, “What do you gain by going to Egypt to drink the waters of the muddy river?” – which is a translation of Sihor. “Why do you wander far away and leave your own cool stream from Lebanon? Why do you turn away from Jerusalem to the foreign cities of Noph and Tahapanes? Why are you so strangely set on mischief, that you cannot be content with the good and healthy, but would run after evil and deceit?”

Is there not here a word of accusation and warning to the Christian? O true believer, called by grace and washed in the precious blood of Jesus, you have tasted of better drink than the muddy river of this world’s pleasure can give you. You have had fellowship with Christ! You have obtained the joy of seeing Jesus and leaning your head upon his chest. Do the trifles, the songs, the honors, the merriment of this earth satisfy you after all of that? Having eaten the bread of angels, can you live on husks fit for pigs?

Samuel Rutherford once said, “I have tasted of Christ’s own manna, and it has put my mouth out of taste for the bread of this world’s joys.” I think the same is true of you. If you are wandering after the waters of Egypt, O return quickly to the one living fountain. The waters of Sihor may be sweet to the Egyptians, but they can only be bitter to you. What do you have to do with them? Jesus asks you this question this evening; so, how will you answer him.” [M&E]