Don’t be shocked or afraid of them! The Lord your God is going ahead of you. He will fight for you, just as you saw him do in Egypt. And you saw how the Lord your God cared for you all along the way as you traveled through the wilderness, just as a father cares for his child. Now he has brought you to this place. Deuteronomy 1:29-31

 

Why do we humans need to be constantly reminded of things that we already know?

 

There’s an old joke about the husband who said that his wife knew that he loved her, because he’d told her that when they got married 30 years ago. We all want to be told and retold that we’re loved, especially in hard times.

The Bible tells of a time when God’s people needed a strong reminder of His love. Having fled from Egypt, finding themselves out in the wilderness and afraid, they panicked. “The Lord must hate us,” they cried. “That’s why he has brought us here from Egypt” (Deuteronomy 1:27a).

God said to them through their leader: “‘Don’t be shocked or afraid of them! The Lord your God is going ahead of you. He will fight for you, just as you saw him do in Egypt. And you saw how the Lord your God cared for you all along the way as you traveled through the wilderness, just as a father cares for his child. Now he has brought you to this place'” (Deuteronomy 1:29-31).

Ten times in this message we find the word “you” or “your.” How personally God reminds those who follow Him of His love and care.

Maximilian Oettingen writes, “On my own journey of liberation—out of the slavery of sin and a selfish heart into a future of freedom in Him—I have to reassure myself, every day, that Jesus loves me, that He is with me and that His intentions are good. If I do not, my perception of Him becomes distorted and I start to doubt. Just like the people of God on the brink of entering the promised land.”[1]

If you’re in a wilderness place of doubt, remember: His love and care for you is sure.

[1] Oettingen, Maximilian. Lectio355. “24-7 Prayer, Version 1.8.10, February 28, 2024. www.24-7prayer.com.