Jump Start # 3374

Deuteronomy 9:3 “Know therefore today that it is the Lord your God who is crossing over before you as a consuming fire. He will destroy them and He will subdue them before you, so that you may drive them out and destroy them quickly, just as the Lord has spoken to you.”

Our verse today is wrapped in a series of instructions the Lord gives to Israel about taking the promise land. It was their land. This was promised by God. In the following verses, the Lord lets the nation know that it is not because of their righteousness or goodness that the Lord is doing this. In fact, they are called a stubborn people. Instead, it is due to the wickedness of these pagan cities that God is driving those inhabitants out.

Within our verse today is a great principle and reminder for us. The Lord your God is crossing over before you. God will be there before you get there. Not only will God be there, but He is subduing the nations so Israel can quickly and completely drive them out. The Lord is there before us…what a wonderful thought.

Consider:

First, the Lord is in tomorrow before we get there. We worry about this and that. We stay awake and toss and turn, wondering how we will get through another medical test, or pay a bill that is due, or face family members that are cruel and mean. For Israel, there were fortified cities, great armies and giants that stood before them. Yet, God was there. He was there before they got there. Before they set up camp, the Lord was there. Before they marched to the first city, the Lord was there.

Before you get to work, God is there. Before you sign in at the doctor’s office, God is there. Before you pull into the driveway, God is there. You do not face things alone. You do not have these battles on your own. Pray that God will help you. He is already there.

Second, not only was God ahead of Israel, the Lord was doing things. I cannot tell you how tomorrow will be, but God is there and already doing things. God’s angels are busy doing things for the righteous. Hearts that are closed can be opened by the Lord. People that are unmovable can be moved by the Lord. Things that are beyond us and situations in which we do not know what to do, the Lord is there, busy, working. God is a day ahead of us. What a comforting thought that is. The task is not overwhelming because God is doing things today that will help your tomorrow.

Third, Israel was still expected to do their part. God was subduing the nations, but Israel had to drive them out. Drive them out quickly was the command. Why didn’t God do that? He could have. It would have made things easier for Israel. No Jericho. No Ai. No other cities. All dealt with by God. Maybe the Lord knew that Israel needed to trust Him. Faith is only good if we need it and use it. The events of Jericho was a major test of Israel’s faith. Would they follow those unusual commands? Would they do it God’s way?

And, what a lesson for us. God may open hearts, but it is up to us to bring up the conversation. God may open eyes, but it is up to us to be the light of the world before others. God may open doors, but we must do our part. God would subdue, but Israel was to drive out.

As one faces the frightful days of sickness and death, realize that God is already there. As one faces the tragic sadness of divorce, God is there. In the desert of life, God is there. In the storms of life, God is there. In the heartache of life, God is there. When others, even brethren turn against you, God is there.

The promise of God that He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow gives us great hope and assurance. We haven’t missed His best days. We don’t worry about God changing. The God that led Abraham, leads you. The God that protected Noah, protects you. The God that reassured the disciples, reassures you.

Jesus, in so many ways has already gone before us. He faced Satan, before we did. He died before we have. He was risen before we were. He is in Heaven before us.

God is crossing over before you…He’ll be waiting for you. It will be ok because He is there.

Roger