Deuteronomy

As a Father Carries His Child…

/ Stacy / 2 Comments
Life is hard.  I don’t think anyone needs to be reminded of that.  A former boss of mine always said, “Be nice to everyone because everyone is having a hard time.“
Everyone is having a hard time.  And, what makes the hard times bearable is the knowledge that we have a God who, not only cares for us, but carries us.

 I tried to relieve your fears: “Don’t be terrified of them. God, your God, is leading the way; he’s fighting for you. You saw with your own eyes what he did for you in Egypt; you saw what he did in the wilderness, how God, your God, carried you as a father carries his child, carried you the whole way until you arrived here. But now that you’re here, you won’t trust God, your God—this same God who goes ahead of you in your travels to scout out a place to pitch camp, a fire by night and a cloud by day to show you the way to go.”  – Deuteronomy 1:29-33

Moses is reminding the Israelites of all God had done for them.  We should be overwhelmed at the personal care we receive from a holy, all powerful God.

  1. God is leading the way…God Himself is walking ahead of you and leading the way.  All you need to do is follow.  He even went ahead of them to scout out a place for them to pitch camp in the evenings.  God leaves nothing to chance.
  2. He is fighting for you… Sometimes, especially during hard times, it is easy to forget. Not only is He on our side – He is personally involved in the fight.  He is not just cheering us on from the sidelines.  He is fighting for us.  He is a fiercely devoted Father.
  3. You saw with your own eyes what He did for you…There are times when God allows us to actually see His hand of protection. There are many times when God protects us from unseen evils that we aren’t even aware of, but sometimes we are able to see.  That, in itself, is an act of love on God’s part…a reminder that our God neither slumbers nor sleeps. 
  4. How God, your God, carried you as a father carries his child..God took such great care of the Israelites.  He fed them with bread from heaven when they were hungry.  Water came from rocks when they were thirsty.  He catered to them time and again.  And, when the journey became too much, He carried them.  Not like a sack of potatoes over his shoulder.  Not on his back like a heavy burden.  He carried them…as a father carries his child.  He carried them with protective strength.  He carried them with love and gentleness.  He carried them with pride.  When we are weak, hurting and feel like we can not take another step on our own…it is not an inconvenience or a hassle for God to step in and help us.  It is what He longs to do…as a father carries his child.

Giddy for God

/ Stacy / 2 Comments

I wish I had some deep, wonderful thought for you, but I just don’t.  I have to say that I can not think of a time when I have felt more in the will of God than these last 6 weeks.  I am reading through the Bible and, key point here, loving it!  It hasn’t become an obligation – it’s a joy.  I carry my Bible every day to work and read it every chance I get.  The second the girls are in bed, I get my Bible and journal and start to read.  And these last 5 weeks of Bible study at church walking through the Psalms of Ascent with Beth have been beyond amazing.  I have not done a Wednesday night Bible study since before I had children.  It always seemed selfish to keep the kids up beyond their bed time.  But, you know what?  They do just fine!

So, all that to say, I am just plain giddy for God these days.  I get so excited when I learn something new that I can hardly sit in my chair and I can’t wait to blog about it.  I realize that my husband, best friend and my new sweet bloggin’ buddy Jenni are probably the only ones reading…but I’m fine with that!  I’m just loving being in the Word.

Happy are you, O Israel!  Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord, The Shield of your help and the Sword of your majesty!…  –Deuteronomy 33:29

Get Moving…The Promised Land Awaits

/ Stacy / Leave a comment

I have made it to Deuteronomy in my quest to read through the Bible.  I have been here all week, but have not made it beyond the first chapter.  Something about it…I just keep reading it over and over.  For some reason, I can’t move on just yet.

A couple of things that are standing out to me right now:

  1. God told the Israelites that they had been in their current location long enough.  It was time to move on.
  2. God delivered them safely to the Promised Land and the Israelites did not trust Him enough to enter and claim it.

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Back at Horeb, God, our God, spoke to us: “You’ve stayed long enough at this mountain. On your way now. Get moving…”   — Deuteronomy 1:6

On your way now.  Get moving.  We need to be told that.  I need to be told that.  I get so comfortable where I am.  It’s not necessarily that I’m in a fabulous place…just a comfy place.  I know the scenery.  I know the routine.  I know the people.  But, God doesn’t want me to just be comfortable…and I think this is more of a spiritual move than a physical one.  He wants to use me.  How?  I’m not certain right now.  But I am certain that God is telling me to “Be on my way.  Get moving.” 

Why did God want the Israelites to get moving?  Because the time had come…

Look, I am giving all this land to you! Go in and occupy it, for it is the land the Lord swore to give to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to all their descendants.’” –Deuteronomy 1:8

…They had reached the Promised Land and God could not wait to give it to them.  The excitement He must have felt.  It makes me think of the time Michael went out of town…

He had been gone for a couple of days and he could not wait to get home and see us.  He had made a stop at the airport and bought Emily a pretty red cowgirl hat.  He was so excited to come home and present this treasure to his little girl.  He came through the door…picked Emily up…and placed the hat on her head.  Immediately, Emily took it off and threw it in the floor.  She was not impressed at all.  Michael got upset, put that hat in the closet and it did not see the light of day for a long, long time.  It’s hard when you want to give something to someone you love and it is not well received.

“But you rebelled against the command of the Lord your God and refused to go in…”  –Deuteronomy 1:26

The Israelites were afraid.  They did not trust God to help them conquer the current inhabitants of the land they were being given.  Though He had brought them through so much already…they still didn’t trust Him.

How it must break God’s heart when we don’t trust Him…when He wants to give great things to us and we refuse to accept out of fear.  If only we understood that not trusting, not obeying, costs us so much more.  And, for the Israelites, their distrust cost them greatly.

Not one of you from this wicked generation will live to see the good land I swore to give your ancestors, except Caleb son of Jephunneh. He will see this land because he has followed the Lord completely. –Deuteronomy 1:35-36

They were denied access to the Promised Land.  Out of that whole generation, only Caleb and Joshua were permitted to set foot on that land which God had promised.  It scares me to think what I have been denied access to because of my distrust and disobedience.

My prayer today is that I, like Caleb, would follow the Lord completely…