The Lords Hand Was In It All

Everywhere you have gone and in everything you have done, the Lord your God has been putting you to the test. He has humbled and disciplined you, tested and tried your heart to see if you would obey His every command. Taught you the right way to go, giving guidance and instruction.

He showed you what to watch out for and kept you safe in all circumstances. He has taken you on this long journey, so that He may craft and form your heart, mind, and spirit into His character. His intent was always to build your strength like no other.

“The whole commandment that I command you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land that the LORD swore to give to your fathers. And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that He might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. Deuteronomy 8:1-2

He allowed you to hunger and thirst, to struggle and cry out for help. To crawl through the valley of the shadow of death, that you may be made complete. That you may be ready with all knowledge, wisdom, and understanding to obey the Lord in everything. That you would know and understand that, “Man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”

And He humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. Deuteronomy 8:3

You obeyed Him and followed Him diligently, walking in all His ways. He preserved and provided for your every need. Though you may have wanted and longed for more. He knows what was best. He gave you exactly what you needed. So much more did He bless you with the lack than the gain. Oh, how wise and good is our God.

Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years. Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the LORD your God disciplines you. So you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God by walking in His ways and by fearing Him. Deuteronomy 8:4-6

The Lord Himself will bring you, His faithful servant, into His promised land. He will bless you greater than you could ever imagine. A land flowing with milk and honey. With all the great and plentiful things the Lord can and will provide. Great will be your rejoicing on that day. The Lord will reward you for your faithful obedience to Him.

Know this very last thing. The Lord loves you so much that He did all of this for your good. You were never alone and He did it for your benefit and to strengthen you, preparing you for what was ahead. Never was there a time the Lord was not right there holding your hand, drying your tears, or embracing you with His care. His promise is true when He said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” Never will He ever leave you alone.

For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing out in the valleys and hills, a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper. And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land He has given you. Deuteronomy 8:7-10