- Home
- Speakers
- Hudson Taylor
- What Comes From The Hand Of God
Hudson Taylor
James Hudson Taylor (1832–1905). Born on May 21, 1832, in Barnsley, Yorkshire, England, to a Methodist chemist and lay preacher, Hudson Taylor was a British missionary, evangelist, and founder of the China Inland Mission (CIM, now OMF International). Converted at 17 through his mother’s prayers and a tract, he committed to missionary work, studying medicine and Mandarin in London before sailing to China in 1853 with the Chinese Evangelisation Society. Disillusioned by coastal-focused missions, he adopted Chinese dress and ventured inland, founding CIM in 1865 to prioritize unreached areas without soliciting funds, relying on prayer. Taylor’s preaching led to thousands of conversions, establishing 300 mission stations and training 849 missionaries by 1905. Despite personal tragedies—losing his first wife, Maria Dyer, in 1870, four children, and second wife, Jennie Faulding, in 1904—he persevered, authoring China: Its Spiritual Need and Claims (1865) and Union and Communion (1894). Known for his motto “God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply,” he inspired global missions. Taylor retired to Switzerland but returned to China, dying on June 3, 1905, in Changsha. He said, “God isn’t looking for people of great faith, but for individuals ready to follow Him.”
Download
Topic
Sermon Summary
James Hudson Taylor preaches on the story of Job, highlighting how Satan questioned Job's motives in serving God, insinuating that it was for selfish gain. Despite the trials and calamities brought upon Job by Satan, Job recognized that it was ultimately the Lord who allowed these tests and remained faithful, acknowledging that both blessings and losses come from God's hand. Taylor emphasizes the importance of discerning God's sovereignty even in the midst of trials, knowing that Satan is a servant under God's control, and that ultimately, all events are permitted by God's determined counsel.
Scriptures
What Comes From the Hand of God
"…the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD" (Job 1:21). The great accuser having no fault to find with Job's character or life, insinuates that it is all the result of selfishness. "Doth Job fear God for nought?" Indeed he did not, as Satan well knew! Nor has anyone, before or since. There is no service which pays so well as the service of our Heavenly Master: there is none so royally rewarded. Satan was making a true assertion, but the insinuation--that it was for the sake of the reward that Job served God, was not true. And to vindicate the character of Job himself, Satan is permitted to test Job. And soon Satan shows the malignity of his character by bringing disaster after disaster upon the devoted man. But God who sent the trial gave also the needful grace, and Job replied: "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the Name of the Lord". Was not Job mistaken? Should he not have said: "The Lord gave, and Satan hath taken away"? No, there was no mistake. He was enabled to discern the hand of God in all these calamities. Satan himself did not presume to ask God to be allowed hirnself to afflict Job. He says to God: "Put forth Thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse Thee to Thy face". And again: "Put forth Thine hand now, and touch his flesh and bone, and he will curse Thee to Thy face". Satan knew that none but God could touch Job, and Job was quite right in recognising the Lord Himself as the doer. Oftentimes shall we be helped and blessed if we bear this in mind--that Satan is servant, and not master, and that he, and wicked men incited by him, are only permitted to do that which God by His determined counsel and foreknowledge had before determined should be done. Come joy or come sorrow, we may always take it from the hand of God.
- Bio
- Summary
- Transcript
- Download
James Hudson Taylor (1832–1905). Born on May 21, 1832, in Barnsley, Yorkshire, England, to a Methodist chemist and lay preacher, Hudson Taylor was a British missionary, evangelist, and founder of the China Inland Mission (CIM, now OMF International). Converted at 17 through his mother’s prayers and a tract, he committed to missionary work, studying medicine and Mandarin in London before sailing to China in 1853 with the Chinese Evangelisation Society. Disillusioned by coastal-focused missions, he adopted Chinese dress and ventured inland, founding CIM in 1865 to prioritize unreached areas without soliciting funds, relying on prayer. Taylor’s preaching led to thousands of conversions, establishing 300 mission stations and training 849 missionaries by 1905. Despite personal tragedies—losing his first wife, Maria Dyer, in 1870, four children, and second wife, Jennie Faulding, in 1904—he persevered, authoring China: Its Spiritual Need and Claims (1865) and Union and Communion (1894). Known for his motto “God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply,” he inspired global missions. Taylor retired to Switzerland but returned to China, dying on June 3, 1905, in Changsha. He said, “God isn’t looking for people of great faith, but for individuals ready to follow Him.”