“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God – He it is that doth go with thee. He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” [De.31:6]
These wonderful words of life and encouragement were a part of that which was given by God unto Moses for him to declare and deliver unto the children of Israel as they approached the promised land to finally enter into it. This was at the end of 40 long years of wandering in the wilderness. 40 long years of living in a world of trial and tribulation. 40 years of having to depend daily upon the Lord to sustain them throughout their struggles to survive. This should not be an unfamiliar picture to the true child of God that is yet passing through this world in any of their generations throughout this entire age of sin and death.
The wilderness experience of the “Children of Israel” is a “type and shadow” of the life, walk and survival of each of God’s eternally loved and chosen children as they each – in their own generation traverse through this “passing-away-world” upon this timeline of fallen humanity [1Jn.2:17]. In this world, we are fraught with the same challenges – both spiritual and physical – that Israel of old had to face. We, also, need the same grace provided supply of wisdom, strength and patience that comes from a living and vital relationship with the very presence of our Lord in order for us to safely and finally arrive.
Earlier from De.29 Moses reminded Israel that as he led them for 40 years, they witnessed – they saw – all that the Lord did to deliver and sustain them. What He did for them from their time in Egypt and up to and through the land of Moab. All the signs and miracles that He performed were testimonies – repeated evidences — of His presence among them as their God! How for 40 years – their clothes and their shoes had not waxen old upon them! Only our God could do such a thing as this for them!
Yet, at the same time, Moses was led to not neglect to solemnly tell them that, “the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear unto this day.” [De.29:4] This is because no matter what we go through in this fallen world – sin is so prevalent and incapacitating that it takes an act of God’s grace to give unto us that “hearing ear” and “seeing eye” so we can hear and see the truth of His wonderful salvation! Pr.20:12 declares: “The hearing ear and the seeing eye – the Lord hath made even both of them.” We need the Lord for everything!
The Spirit of God through Moses also told the Israelites: “…the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart — and the heart of thy seed – to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soul – that thou mayest live.” [De.30:6] Jesus taught from Jn.15:5: “for without me – ye can do nothing!” It is so true what Ps.37:39-40 declares: “But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord – He is their strength in the time of trouble. (40) And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them. He shall deliver them from the wicked – and save them – because they trust in Him.”
The Spirit of God through the Apostle Paul wrote from Eph.6:10-11: “Finallly, my brethren – be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. (11) Put on the whole armor of God – that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” And then he further descriptively declared unto the Philippians from Phil.3:3: “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the Spirit – and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence [or, put no trust] in the flesh!”
For Christ’s Glory Only!
John Carpenter
