Scripture:
Deuteronomy 2:7 ESV
[7] For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He knows your going through this great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you. You have lacked nothing.”’
Observation:
As we had determined yesterday Deuteronomy is a recap of the journey through the wilderness. Moses is speaking to GOD’s chosen people reminding them about GOD’s goodness. In a sense, he is preparing them for the next step. Calling to their mind how GOD had provided everything they needed in their time of need. They would wake up to manna. Always had a safe place to sleep. Gave them directions by GPS (GOD’s positioning service). Told them when to fight and when to sit still as he was preparing their path. HE took care of them. I believe to this point and going forward that the book of Deuteronomy is preparing a path for GOD’s people to move forward into what HE has promised them. Reminding them of all the provisions and victories that have been given and taking them into the next step…the promised land.
Application:
The wilderness is rough. I can tell you about my trip through it. However crazy it may seem I always had exactly what I needed. Honestly, it was miraculous how GOD always provided. I remember a time when I was hitchhiking from Portland OR. to the coast looking for my dad I had a bag of clothes a dog and a girlfriend. When a woman we had never met pulled up in a car and gave us a place to stay for the night and a tent. So we could move forward. I could tell many stories like this but my point is GOD always made sure I had what I needed. So you may ask…how does giving someone what they need prepare them to come out of the wilderness? Isn’t that more of an encouragement to stay in the wilderness? I mean why provide for yourself if GOD will provide for you? Well here is my answer GOD was drawing me near to HIM with HIS great love. Providing for me when I was rebellious and heading away from a calling out of fear. You see HE knew that by taking care of my immediate needs I would learn to trust HIM in a way that could not be learned through any other methods. There was a lot of pain ahead of that tent many trips to jail and a lot more lessons learned. However, I always had what I needed. Food clothing and shelter even if that shelter was a bridge or an abandoned house. GOD took care of me so that I could stand here today at the edge of the promised land. Looking at milk and honey…yes, I want milk and honey that’s what HE promised me. So let me ask you have you seen GOD’s provision have you had hard times where you didn’t know where your next meal was coming from and some how some way GOD put food in front of you? Should those moments build your trust in HIM? HE has more for you. HIS plan is good the wilderness is only a stepping stone, not a place to live allow HIS love to draw you into the promised land.
Prayer:
Father, I have watched you provide everything I have needed I have also watched you provide for many others as well as we move into this new year let us live in your promise of milk and honey and the land of plenty. You would not promise us something you did not intend for us to have. We do not want to make a wrong move and end up back in the wilderness so give us wisdom to see your direction and step forward into your promise. As we move into this new year let us leave the last one behind, but not forget all the victory you gave us inside of it. You are truly an amazing GOD and I can’t wait to see what you have in store for 2024. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.