"I can do all this through him who gives me strength” - Philippians 4:13.
When the Israelites finally reached the Promised Land it was rather an anti-climax. A journey that had started in the midst of great miracles that that had humbled Pharaoh with the devastating parting of the Red Sea and drowning of the chasing soldiers (Exodus 14:21) all ended with only two reaching.
For Moses, lack of enough belief had run him into problems. “But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.” (Numbers 1:12). Later, when Moses sent out 12 spies and all but two dared believe they would take on the land of giants, the Lord was angry for this lack of belief. “Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the Lord fills the whole earth, not one of those who saw my glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times— not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it (Numbers 14: 21-23).
Belief that our God is able to do more than we can imagine is something central to our Christian faith. This belief is not a blind belief. In the above cases Moses and the Israelites had seen God perform innumerable miracles in their lives and yet still doubted. You and I have also seen God perform innumerable miracles in our lives, especially through a long year. Yet we sometines doubt.
May we not be denied of ultimate victory simply because we allowed disbelief to have the better part of us. Let’s believe that the God who has got us here will see us through the next year.
Prayer for today: Lord father God of Abraham, creator of heaven and earth, as we conclude 2020, I look back and see all the miracles you have wrought in my life, and aware of all this astonishing evidence, I look forward to 2021 with belief that through you all is possible because I have believed in you!
Related upcoming events
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27/04/2024 - 28/04/2024 All day“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God” (Psalm 42:1).
In the wildlife, a common feature is predatory animals chasing after less ferocious ones, which on a bad day become good dinner. Through the savannah plains of Africa the antelope tends to suffer that fate. After a long chase from a mighty lion, cheetah or leopard; antelopes that survive tend to retreat to a fresh water spot. There they gladly refresh their quench with streams of water.
King David, must have been more familiar with deer, as there are more common in the Northern Hemisphere. For us in the tropics we can substitute the deer with our antelope, commonly chased by predators. After a long chase, of course all pant for pints of water.
The significance of this metaphor is that whenever we encounter any situation that puts us on a chase, where do we run to! Habakuk 3:19 says, “The Lord God give my strength. He helps me run fast like deer. He leads me safely on the mountains” (Habakuk 3:19).
Two things of note here. The Lord can make us run as fast as the fastest antelope being chased by a predator to a well of safety. And of course, as we run, we have that the well of God to end up to and refresh ourselves! This is why David wrote, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:11).
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today like the antelopes of the wildlife I run to you, to that well of life, which refreshes my soul, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
