'Elim' to-morrow, where there are 'the twelve wells and the seventy
palm trees.' The chart is right, and the chart says that the end of
it all is 'the land that flows with milk and honey.' He _has_ told us
_this_; if there had been anything worse than this, He would have
told us _that_. 'If it were not so I would have told you.' The sorrow
foretold deepens our confidence in our Guide.

Sorrow that comes punctually in accordance with His word plainly
comes in obedience to His will. Our Lord uses a little word in this
context which is very significant. He says, 'When _their hour_ is
come.'

'Their hour'--the time allotted to them. Allotted by whom? Allotted
by Him. He could tell that they would come, because it was as His
instruments that they came. 'Their time' was His appointment. It was
only an 'hour,' a definite, appointed, and brief period in accordance
with His loving purpose. It takes all sorts of weathers to make a
year; and after all the sorts of weathers are run out, the year's
results are realised and the calm comes. And so the good old hymn,
with its rhythm that speaks at once of fear and triumph, has caught
the true meaning of these words of our Lord's--

'Why should I complain
Of want or distress,
Temptation or pain?
He told me no less.'

'These things have I spoken unto you that ye might not be offended.'

II. Still further, note our Lord's loving reasons for past silence.