The day had come – the Israelites were going to enter the Promised Land but they would be doing so without their leader. Moses had taken them as far as God was going to permit him to go. Moses prepared them, delivered a farewell speech, for he truly knew the nature of the people. In the middle of his speech, he says:
“So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
(Deuteronomy 31:6, NLT)
Moses recognized that the people had a tendency to be afraid. He also knew the days ahead would demand them to be strong and courageous, for they would be facing the unknown. The opposition which would come up against them would cause them to fear and question where God was taking them.
The question we need to ask is – Who is the “them” in our lives?
The Israelites were able to move forward, not denying their fear, but in the knowledge and awareness of three things:
- “For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you” They knew Who was going ahead of them, for He had assured them He was personally with them. We need to know that as well. Our God is with us and He is for us.
- “He will not fail you.” Moses was assuring the people of God’s care for them. God would not fall short of what He had promised. God was not in any way deficient or lacking. Our God will not fail us either.
- Our God “will not abandon you.” God was not going to abandon His people. He made a covenant with them and He is faithful to do that which He has promised. He will not abandon us.
This same promise is repeated in Hebrews 13:5 – “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (NIV)
The interesting thing is in the Greek, it is a triple negative, which we do not have in the English language. So it would read, “No not never will I leave you, no not never will I forsake you” (New American Commentary). God is emphatic in promising us that He will always remain with us.
Today may we rise up and take Him at His Word;
and may we not be afraid of them.
No. Not. Never.
Change. Transitions. They can be challenging at times. In her post, “Growing Weary of Constant Change?” HERE, Lynn Simpson offers three questions for reflection which may be most helpful.
Come, sit a spell. Bring your coffee, your posts, and your thoughts. If you link up, kindly visit those who have drawn up a seat around you.
What comfort, that God goes before us and will never abandon us.
It’s a comfort to know He will never leave, forsake, or abandon us, Joanne.
Sometimes we desperately need to hear that triple negative.
“Do not be afraid and do not panic before them.”
“The question we need to ask is – Who is the “them” in our lives?”
That brings it down to real life. Great post, Joanne.
Thank you, Joanne, the enemy of our souls is relentless in discouraging us and placing doubts against God’s goodness. It’s reminders like these that help us remember no weapon formed against us can prosper because God is ever with us.
As always Joanne, thank you for putting your ear to the chest of our Father. Thank you for writing and offering a place for us to share what God has written in our hearts.
I am finishing a read through the Torah and I am currently reading through Deuteronomy. Wowsers, so many connection points in your post today.
And this scripture that is the YouVersion scripture of the day…
“For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.””
Isaiah 41:13 esv
Thank you for your faithfulness!!
The triple negative “no not never” adds emphasis to “never” that brings the message home more that He is always with us. I like it! Thank you for sharing out my post, Joanne!
What reassuring knowledge it is knowing that God will “no not never” leave us! That triple negative magnifies this reality and brings such comfort to our daily lives!
When I teach this verse to kids, I have them put one word on each finger of their hand: “I will never leave you.” It’s such a reassuring truth!