The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemies before you, saying ‘Destroy them!’

Do you ever read the Old Testament and realize you are being sort of judgy about the behavior of the Israelites? Especially after they were rescued out of Egypt? I find myself thinking, “Come on guys, Moses just parted the Red Sea so you could escape to safety and now you’re doubting God and making all these bad choices?” Just me?

There’s a story that begins in the 13th chapter of Numbers about 12 spies that were sent out to the land of Canaan, the land that God had promised would be their land one day, to see what it looked like and to see who lived there. When the spies returned after 40 days, 10 of the 12 said they stood no chance against the people of “great size” (v32) that they saw in the land. Their fear even caused them to start a rebellion among the people who said, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert!” (14:2).

How could they not have had faith in an all-knowing, all-powerful, eternal God, who keeps his promises when they had seen with their own eyes what the God of Abraham, Issaac and Jacob was capable of doing to preserve and protect their whole nation?? I have never had to battle literal giants or overthrow ancient cities with huge, fortified walls so I am really not one to pass judgment, but I seriously wonder how with all the miraculous things they had seen God do, they didn’t trust that he would ensure their victory.

In contrast to their lack of faith in the face of such opposition was their faithful leader, Moses. Our scripture today is found near the end of Deuteronomy and was spoken by Moses at the end of his life, long after the spies’ rebellion and their 40-year punishment walk in the desert. Moses had seen many miracles in his life and even encountered the living God personally on a mountain. Unfortunately, Moses would not enter the Promised Land himself, but he was offering a blessing to the next generation that would see the fulfillment of God’s promises. I believe he fully trusted that God would help them defeat every enemy nation that the spies had decided could not be overcome, to occupy the land of Canaan. God had already provided for them and helped them defeat many other people groups, like the Amorites and Midianites. Moses had seen these enemies once thought impossible to defeat, destroyed with God’s help! Moses was reminding them in his blessing over them that God will far outlast anyone who could come against them, and God would continue to carry them with his “everlasting arms.”

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God is eternal and omniscient, or all-knowing and outside time. No surprise attack is a surprise to the God of the universe. Victory for the Israelites was assured because God had told their forefathers that their descendants would be more numerous than the stars, and God keeps his promises. Victory is sure for those of us who are in Christ as well today. No enemy can defeat us who take shelter in the refuge of the Most High God.

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How can you have the faith and peace of Moses today as you look at situations that seem impossible knowing that God goes before you? Where can you look back and see God’s faithfulness as a sign that he will be faithful in the future battles?

Oh Lord, our refuge, we run to you for safety when there are enemies closing in around us. Your everlasting arms are ever beneath us. Forgive us for when we doubt that you will help us fight our battles. Show us where you are going before us, walking beside us, carrying us through difficult times. Help us to rest in the assurance of our salvation in Christ. It’s in Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.