Exodus 14:21

Children Of The East Wind

A strong east wind. Exodus 14:21.

Today it is the turn of the children of the East wind.

Now, I wonder if you have noticed that when you mention the East wind people have very little good to say about it? “That nasty, biting wind!” they exclaim. “It chills you through and through; it makes all your bones ache; it brings colds and all sorts of horrid troubles with it!”

Well, there are two sides to every question a good side, and a bad side; and we are going to look at both sides of the East wind. It has its faults, and we are ready to admit them, but we are going to try and find out its good points also.

1. The thing that strikes one first about this wind is its blighting power. In Palestine the East wind is dry and scorching. It blows from the desert and it withers the corn, and destroys the fruit. The Bible often speaks of this blighting power of the East wind. You remember, for instance, how Pharaoh in his dream saw seven thin ears of corn “blasted by the east wind.”

It seems rather odd to think of an East wind being hot, does it not? We are accustomed to regard it as a bitterly cold wind. But the reason why it is cold here is that it comes to us chiefly in Spring, and it comes across the frozen plains of Russia.

But here is a strange thing. Although the East wind in Palestine is burning hot, and the East wind in Britain is bitterly cold, in both places it has very much the same effect it blights and destroys young plants. Last Spring I planted out some sweet-peas. For a week or two they looked strong and sturdy. Then came a few days of wind blowing from the East, and when I went to look at the sweet-peas their poor leaves were all yellow and shriveled by the cruel blast. You would have thought some creature had got at their roots and had been gnawing their life away.

Some people are very like the East wind. They blight and destroy a great deal of happiness in the world by their tempers and their tongues. There are those who say cutting things with intent to wound; there are those who say biting things in an attempt to be clever; and there are those who insist upon telling unpleasant truths in the most unpleasant way.

Now I want to say this to the East-wind people. I don't think you mean half you say. I think very often you speak in the heat of the moment, and you don't realize the harm you are doing. But remember your unkind words may rankle and wound long after you have forgotten them. The tongue is a terrible weapon. It can inflict mortal injuries. It can separate lifelong friends, and cause problems in the family. Some day you may wake to find that by your bitter words you have blighted the happiness of someone you love very dearly.

Now St. James tells us that “the tongue can no man tame.” He says that “every kind of beasts and birds, of creeping things and things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed by mankind: but the tongue can no man tame.” Well, it is true that no other man can tame your tongue for you, but you can tame it for yourself. You will have a hard fight, and sometimes it will seem as if this wild beast were conquering you instead of your conquering it, but if Jesus is on your side you are sure to win in the end, for He has won the victory over all our enemies.

2. Perhaps you think I have been rather hard on the East wind, so now I am going to say something nice about it. Have you noticed that the East wind often brings us bright sunshine? We have got so used to discussing its faults that we sometimes forget the good things it does. It comes to us when the ground is sodden with the winter snow and rain, and it dries the soil so that the farmer can get his seed sown. It helps us to forget its own bitterness by the bright sunshine it brings.

Do you know, East-wind people, you have a great power in you to bring sunshine into the world? Your tongues have been employed in saying cutting, cruel things. Why not use them in being witty in a kind way? Why not employ them to defend the right in the face of evil? Why not train them to say kind things that will warm people's hearts?

Once a famous clergyman the Reverend Henry Ward Beecher came across a little ragged newsboy standing shivering at the edge of the pavement. He went up to him and said, “Poor little fellow! Aren't you very cold?” And the boy replied, “I was, sir, before you spoke to me.” The kind words had made him feel almost warm again.

Try to put the sunshine of a smile into all you say and do. It will make things easier, and it will make the world brighter.

Sometimes along our East coasts the East wind brings a thick mist. If you go inland a few miles you will find the sun shining brightly, but the people along the coast cannot see the sunshine for the mist. East-wind people often hide their own good qualities behind a cold mist. Get rid of the mist, dear East- wind people! Let us see the glorious Spring sunshine which you bring! For the world has need of all its sunshine. (The texts of the other sermons in this series are Exodus 10:19 Ezekiel 1:4; Acts 27:13.)