READING: Deuteronomy 1:1-2:7, Mark 14:43-72
We’re such a forgetful people! We’re not unlike the Hebrews, who saw God’s hand leading them through the wilderness but also forgot about His care when they learned about giants in the land He promised them. He had given His Word to grant them the land—and He had never not kept His word to them in the past—but still they failed to trust Him.
Moses described the situation this way: “And you saw in the wilderness how the Lord your God carried you as a man carries his son all along the way you traveled until you reached this place. But in spite of this you did not trust the Lord your God. . . .” (Deut. 1:31-32). I’m stuck today on the words, “in spite of this,” because they so often describe me. Sometimes I struggle with trusting God:
- In spite of His continual care for me
- In spite of the fact that I cannot name a time when He let me down
- In spite of my claim to believe and follow His Word
- In spite of the stories of long-term believing friends who’ve never seen God forsake them
- In spite of my belief that God loves me so much that He sent His Son to die for me.
In spite of all this, I still wrestle with trusting. May God forgive me.
PRAYER: “God, I need Your help. Help me always to see You rather than the giants in my life.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Deuteronomy 2:8-3:29, Mark 15:1-20