Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 2:24-37, Deuteronomy 3:1-29, Hebrews 3:13-19
As he prepares the Israelites for the promised land, Moses recalls past events from the nation’s wanderings in the wilderness, including the defeat of two powerful kings. Knowing that Israel would encounter more enemies, Moses encourages Joshua, who would lead the people, to trust in the Lord’s direction. Just as God had given Israel victory over Sihon and Og, He would give Joshua and the Israelites victory over anyone that came against them as they journeyed to their new land.
Don’t be afraid of them, for the LORD your God fights for you (Deuteronomy 3:22).
I can only imagine how encouraging Moses’s words must have been to Joshua and to the Israelites. He assures the new leader that the Lord will bring future victory by reminding him of the Lord’s faithful protection in the past, which Joshua had himself witnessed (v.21).
Moses’s words are encouraging to us, as well. Remembering what God has done in the past helps us to trust Him in the present and into the future. Moses also reminds us of what it means for a people to belong to the Lord. “Your God fights for you” (v.22). This is what His covenant loyalty to His people looks like—His presence and His protection are with us, always.
Israel wasn’t the biggest nation, let alone the most powerful. None of that mattered, because God was on their side. We’re not in quite the same situation as Israel, where settling into our new home involves defeating some of the most powerful nations around us. But we do encounter opposition and hard seasons in life that can make us feel small and powerless. However, here’s the truth: the same God that fought for Israel in the wilderness is the same God who promises to protect us.
As powerful as remembrance can be, there’s a danger in forgetting, of failing to intentionally remember God’s goodness in our lives. If we forget who we are and who God is to us, we can go through life with doubt and unbelief. Instead of facing life’s challenges with confidence in God’s help, we’ll feel defeated before we’ve even begun. Or, we’ll be tempted to lean on our own strength, which can lead to ill-gotten outcomes.
That’s why we all need a Moses in our life, someone who helps us view our present and future through faith-filled lenses. Just as importantly, we also need to be a Moses to the people in our lives, using remembrance of God’s past faithfulness in their lives as a buoy for their faith. When we remind other believers of the goodness of God, He is at work in us—bringing hope to those in despair and shining His light in the darkest of situations.
Written by Tameshia Williams
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85 thoughts on "Wilderness Wandering and New Leadership"
In the midst of a storm, I am always reminded of how God made a way before out of no way. And it gives me food for the journey. We are blessed.
Not sure how to check
Off todays plan
If He did it before, He can do it again. Same God then and now.
Lord, help me to be a ‘Moses’ in someone’s life!
Lord thank you for the reminder.
Lord, help me never forget.
Lord you are good and your mercy is everlasting we do the good that you instill in us and obedience is blessings for us! I shall obey lord!
Thank you Lord, may I always remember how you fight for those who love you and demonstrate it through obedience.
Encourage and strengthen Joshua… we all have friends who need that encouragement and we are charged by our Lord to support them and help them realize their greatness. We are all fighting out battles against the darkness of our world and we should lift up our eyes to see the light and help others shine theirs too.
Amennnn
Always know that God is fighting for us no matter how bleak the fight or outcome may seem … he’s always beside us in the fight and we can tryst and lean on that
He is the same today as he was yesterday and will be tomorrow. He is ALWAYS faithful.
Remember your blessings so that in the future it will help you when a new challenge arises. He is always with me.
❤️
Thankful for all of your comments. I always look to them after reading and learn so much from all you glean from the scriptures that I sometimes don’t notice. I love the point made that Moses was not allowed to go into Canaan, but that God did not take away his salvation . We may suffer in this life and be corrected by our Lord at times, but when we accept Him we are His forever. So thankful for His mercy and Grace.
Thank you Lord for always fighting for me! I pray I remember and cherish the protection you’ve always shown me.
Wow!
♥️
❤️
“But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
This verse is sometimes hard to do in practice.
But it stood out to me.
I want the Lord to really show Himself in His battle strategy in my life. I read and study the Word but find it hard to pray at times.
@Jenni Southern. “Failing to remember God’s goodness in our lives.” Stood out to me as well. Such a good reminder.
Hannah B I will pray !
Thank you CeeGee!
Thank you Jody Lynn ❤️
There is a danger in forgetting, of failing to remember God’s goodness in our lives.
I am in a time of lots of transitions and need to intentionally remember all the ways God has been faithful and good in the past.
Always need to hear that God fights for me. No matter what He is right there taking care of it all. Thank you Father!
This is so good! Needed the reminder that God fights for me
Oops! Posted my comment on the wrong day! Haha!! Will post again on the right day!!
Deuteronomy 4 has a LOT in it!!! The thing that I noticed most was that it kept repeating “Listen. Be Careful. Watch/Guard yourselves diligently.” It is SO easy to get distracted and fall away from the blessing/s God has called us to: following His statutes & commandments. I needed this reminder to, watch, listen, be careful, be diligent. It’s so important!!!
Verses 27-31 also stood out to me. “27 The Lord will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be reduced to a few survivors among the nations where the Lord your God will drive you. 28 There you will worship man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see, hear, eat, or smell. 29 But from there, you will search for the Lord your God, and you will find Him when you seek Him with all your heart and all your soul. 30 When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, in the future you will return to the Lord your God and obey Him. 31 He will not leave you, destroy you, or forget the covenant with your ancestors that He swore to them by oath, because the Lord your God is a compassionate God.”
Verse 27 reminded me of the holocaust and what’s happening with some believers even now!! Verse 28 explains what’s happening in our world today!! Verse 29 is an example of what “coming to the end of ourselves” does..I take that as an encouragement. Verses 30-31 filled me with HOPE!!! Our God knows EXACTLY how to get our attention!!! And it’s super important to take note of these things!!!
I hope all of you wonderful ladies have a blessed, Spirit-led and filled day!!! Amen ❤️
I love that not only is God with me, He has given me memories not to dwell but to recount Hid goodness to me. How great is our God?
God fights for you!
This is what stuck out to me also. Moses had brought them so far, and in the end (due to his anger and pride) he wouldn’t go to the promise land and God wanted him to encourage Joshua. I know I have been standing on the sidelines feeling left behind or left out and being bitter or jealous….when God expected me to encourage and strengthen who He chose. I pray the Holy Spirit presses this scripture onto my heart when I do that again!
I Absolutely love how continuously the Lord communicates the words “Do Not Be Afraid”.
Continuously He is comforting me with those words.
What do we have to fear?
He is still good. He’s got it all in control. He is always sovereign. The same God that led them through and got them to is the same God today. It’s so comforting to know He makes way for us, even now!
I loved Tameshia’s devotional today! “The same God that fought for Israel in the wilderness is the same God who promises to protect us.” I am praying this protection over my daughter, who is three months pregnant and has been spotting all day. May God pour out His protection over her baby and stop the bleeding. Protect my daughter and bring this baby to full term. Also, I love the reminder to be a Moses to the people in my life. Remind I g them of God’s past faithfulness. Sending prayers of comfort and peace to you and your family, Martha.
Mandy F.—- what a good idea! I have been writing my SRT prayer requests in my study book and pray as I write them, and then remember them the next day (before I add the new ones). Sometimes they are prayers for special needs, and sometimes they are prayers of thanksgiving. I’ll admit that I need to work harder at the thanking Him part, here and in my life, as well. Please know, sisters that He hears your prayers, and that others are lifting your needs up too. We are storming the heavens, indeed! Thanks for sharing that quote, CeeGee. Please keep our son, Jon, in your prayers, as he prepares for his microdiskectomy on Friday afternoon. Thank you.
I am praying for your son, Adrienne!
The commentary on Deuteronomy is helping me so much. I admit I’m having a hard time currently pulling out pieces to take away. But when I read the devo on it. It helps to bring it all together. I definitely need to be a Moses for some in my life. And I always need to remember for myself the past greats that God has done.
At first I just read the passages. I understood parts and not others. Everyone was saying how much they enjoyed todays study. I just couldn’t figure it out. Then I read the devotional!! Wow it spoke volumes to me. I too found myself writing so much of it down. Tameshia Williams – Thank you!
I keep a prayer list on my fridge that I see every day. As God answers prayers, I put a check mark next to them but don’t erase them. This allows me to look back at what God has done, and is a beautiful reminder of His love and working in my life (and the lives of those I’m praying for). I just started this practice at the first of this year, but it will absolutely become a staple for the rest of my life.
Praise God for all He has done, is doing, and will do in the future! xx
Ellen… I love your comment about Deuteronomy being a “love letter” from Moses to the Israelites… this will stick with me; thank you!
So much good in this devotion today. My Mama would often tell me, “Remember who you are” before I would leave the house. I remind my young men of this as well. I also add “SHINE BRIGHT” to rolled eyes. They have heard me encourage them with these same concepts – to remember all God has done for you and to encourage those who need to see the Light of Jesus. I believe he puts someone in our path everyday. We may just not know it.
Thank you for challenging us to be an encourager to someone who needs God’s light to SHINE the way!
i Ladies,
I wanted to ask for prayer for a few of my dear friends, they have been hit very hard by covid over the last week and half. Cecilia, my friends grandmother is in the hospital and she is not doing very well, she has needed increased oxygen and is groggy and unable to communicate well. Please pray for healing, for the inflammation in her lungs to be reduced and for increased oxygen saturation. Danae is my other friend who needs prayer. She is Cecilia’s grand daughter-in-law and she is 38 weeks pregnant and sick as well. She is doing well at home but she is stressed and discouraged being so sick so late in her pregnancy. Please pray for healing for her so she can deliver at the birth center she is scheduled to deliver at, for her baby to stay healthy through all this, and for peace and encouragement to get through this difficult season.
Thank you ladies!
Oh how I need to hear Tameshia’s words today. My family is in so much turmoil and I’m the “middle man”. I’m the only person in my family my sister feels she can talk to. She has sent nasty emails to my two brothers, son and daughter-in-law disowning them. Yesterday, I reached out to her, by text, and asked how she was. It took me about 20 minutes to read everything she wrote and half of it didn’t make sense. After back and forth discussion and finding out she won’t talk to anyone but me we both called it a night at about 11:30 pm. (I didn’t start reading the text until 10:30 pm after I got off work.) Tameshia’s last two paragraphs about not being able to do anything without God’s help is just what I needed to hear. I have rewritten a few parts so as to be able reread them when I need reassurance.
Have a blessed day sisters and do as I plan on doing turn it over to God and Christ.
I love the thought that we each need a Moses and we need to be a Moses!
Good point, HANNAH!
FOSTER MAMA – Thanks for sharing your thought on HIS! Praying with you and that God will soften your husband’s heart toward all involved and for wisdom/discernment for you both.
EMMA K and VICTORIA E. You’re welcome!!! VICTORIA, continued prayers for trust and peace and good reports from the 10 week scan!
KATHY STILES- thanks!
CHRIS SWAN – Prayers for your anxiety over the upcoming surgery and for protection and healing for your husband.
What beautiful thoughts and comments today. I share many with you! So many mirror things that stood out to me.
ERB, missing your beautiful post today! Hugs!!!
MARTHA HIX – continued prayers through this day and for safe travels for your kids. We are here for you!
What left me amazed from the scripture reading is Moses encouraging Joshua. God said you will not enter the land, but Joshua will and he needs your encouragement. That blew my mind. How difficult must that have been for Moses to be told No and then on top of that be told to encourage the one who is getting what Moses originally asked for.
This reminds us of the absolute sovereignty of God. He is involved in what we’re facing as a nation. He is faithful even when we are not
Totally agree with all the comments here, great discussion! I need to learn to rely on God in ALL the difficult circumstances in my life, not just the ones it is apparent to me I can do nothing about. Martha Hix, I pray that today you and your family will feel comforted by God. Sisters, if I may ask for prayer for a continued healthy pregnancy we are being discharged from the fertility clinic after 8 long months of treatment and I see my OB tomorrow for our 10 week scan. Thank you.
Great readings and devotional today. I really needed it. Don’t fear, because God!!!! My husband is scheduled for prostrate surgery and biopsy Thursday and Covid is rampant here even among the vaccinated!! My husband is “comfortable” with proceeding— so again, Thank you SRT for this study!!
I was told by a pastor friend that Deuteronomy is a “love letter” from Moses to the Israelites. That has changed the way I read Deuteronomy.
I think back to the time I was sending my children off to college for the first time. The manic thoughts I had…did I teach them everything they need to know to be safe and successful? Did I teach them to do their laundry, make their bed, good study habits, how to be a good person? Did those lessons stick? I think Moses felt like this. He was sending the people he had cared for over the past years into the promised land without him. He’s trying to teach them and remind them of past lessons so that they will be safe and successful in this new place.
Praying for Martha Hix and family ♥️
Over the past several years I have struggled with the 2 opposing views that God protects me and yet I will go through trials. I don’t have all the answers but I do know that I see Gods hand protecting in the midst of those trials. And that it is better to trust him and expect some difficulty rather than not trust him and live in fear.
Susie H ❤️
Amen Susie!
This study- it’s speaking so much into what I am currently experiencing. This stood out to me:
If we forget who we are and who God is to us, we can go through life with doubt and unbelief. Instead of facing life’s challenges with confidence in God’s help, we’ll feel defeated before we’ve even begun. Or, we’ll be tempted to lean on our own strength, which can lead to ill-gotten outcomes.
God, please help me to remember your goodness and give me the courage to walk out the path you have for me.
God is always faithful to us, and always keeps His promises with us, even when we are unfaithful to Him. We need to always remember how good He is to us all the time, and never forget what He always does for us. I love Him so much, its all I know. Have a great rest of the day, sisters!
Thank you SO much KRISTEN, ARINA and KELLY!
“You shall not fear them, for it is the Lord your God who fights for you.”
Sisters, please pray for me and hubby throughout this week as we head into a potentially difficult situation again this weekend; I feel like I’m going into some fire but God (Oh, my sweet Lord!) and the support of my SRT community and loved ones has given me the feeling of going in better protected. STILL, I am struggling…LET YOUR WILL BE DONE… Yes, I have made errors but, not to the extent of the damage that was done…so I need to trust that God knows what He is doing. Please pray that I will be receptive & obedient and be given Favour. There are ways that I want to “be Jesus” to those against me but, hubby is “all done” with them and, for some of it, I need his help.
MOST of all, please pray for the children MOST affected by all of this!
I struggle to accept that Moses was kept out of the Promised Land (this post helps me to understand: https://www.gotquestions.org/Moses-promised-land.html)
But today I was reminded that, although the consequence of his disobedience was not erased, and he did not get to enter the Promised Land here on earth, yet his eternal home remained secure, and Moses (along with all of God’s people!) will enter and spend our eternity in rest in the heavenly Promised Land. Which will far far surpass the splendors of Canaan. Thank you, Lord!
He did though get to see the land and to see how big and wide it was.
Yes! That gets me too, God could have forgiven and let Moses in. But he didnt. And the coolest thing is Moses did get to go in and see it for the first time at the transfiguration with Jesus. What an amazing way to enter!
It’s all God! It’s all Jesus! It’s not me at all. Not long ago I was in a very dark valley of despair, so scared to the point of afraid of my own shadow. BUT GOD! He delivered me and my children. I still have painful and scary memories BUT GOD gently reminds me I am safe. I am HIS! And because of this I know I can do all things because He gives me strength to do so. I still get scared and sometimes but I remember… I know that my God is faithful and I can do this because he’s yet to let me down.
Praying for you and your family @Martha Hix ❤️
This study has spoken to my soul/spirit. It’s meant to be because this is similar to the Bible study I am using for my kids during homeschool. You know this study is going to be good when you feel the presence of the spirit/lord near you. Especially when the hair raises on your arms and the shiver down your back. Remembering what the Lord has done is a glorious thing. Fighting for his people protecting, providing etc. Such a powerful God he is. I think we all need a reminder.
Good Morning Sisters, Praying for you Katie Palone, asking God to speak to your heart His love and show you the gifts He has given you. Jesus says He is the Truth, may you hear His voice in your ear, and may it drown out any voices that are telling you you are not enough. If you have a chance to download the free Bible App by You Version they have reading plans that cover fear that will bless you. Also Read 1 Timothy 1:7 Hugs to you Katie from someone who knows how debilitating fear can be. But God is able to change everything. Monica praying you find the time with the busyness of four little ones to join us daily and soak in the blessings. Enjoy all the moments with your babes, they do fly by and you will wish for more. All, I was thankful to wake up early and find many are already encouraging, praying for one another and in the Word. The very things Tameshia encourages in her last paragraph, and I find here daily. Thank you. Angie, I know school has started, haven’t seen a post from you for a little while, praying for you as you teach, and Love all those God gives you. Praying for all the kids and teachers returning to school. Shine His light Loves.
“Remembering what God has done in the past helps us to trust Him in the present and into the future.” This is so true. In my hardest times, when all seems like despair, I am so encouraged when I remember and meditate on all the Lord has done in the past. It helps me to go forward. Praising God for His presence and for knowing that God Himself fights for me!
@Martha Hix – So very sorry for your loss. I will be praying for your family as you have the service today. May God give strength and peace, and most of all – comfort as you say your final goodbyes.
God does not change, so the God I read of in the Bible is the same God I encounter today in my life. I can trust in His promises and rely on His faithfulness.
Music regularly becomes a pathway for God to speak His truth to me. Then I proclaim it back to Him. In the past few years certain songs have become anthems I pray for a person or situation. This song is so powerful and such a good reminder as we read about God’s faithfulness to His people. May it remind us of His faithfulness in our days.
“I Am Not Alone” By: Kari Jobe
When I walk through deep waters
I know that You will be with me
When I’m standing in the fire
I will not be overcome
Through the valley of the shadow
I will not fear
I am not alone
I am not alone
You will go before me
You will never leave me…
Thank you. This is exactly the reminder that I needed today.
So much truth in today’s passages! I feel like I copied half the devotion into my notebook. Trust. Remembrance. Presence. Protection. Intentional. Fight. Victory. I echo what others said that when I try to solve my own problems, it always ends up a mess. I pray for the Lord’s strength to fight the good fight today and resist temptations.
Thank you for all your comments. I try and go back through the ones from the day before when I jump on in the morning.
MARTHA HIX – saying a prayer for you. May God enfold you in His wings.
MANDY CLARK – thanks for reminding us about the podcast. I meant to listen to it all summer, but it rarely happened. I want to dive into this study, so I’ll try and listen to episode 1. Your comment about the boundaries was so good!
KELLY ROWLEY – sorry you skipped the study on here this summer. The comments were so enlightening, and I learned from the overviews they offered here. (I’m very tempted to get one of the SRT bibles, tho. They look so helpful!) Glad you’re back with us! Can’t wait to hear what you have to share.
You shall not fear them, for it is the Lord your God who fights for you. Deuteronomy 3:22 is what stuck with me this morning. I’m sure I’m not alone in this but I’ve been fearing quite a bit in the world lately and I have to remember He fights for us. He has a plan and I need to keep my heart and mind focused on Him.
Amen Lale !
Yes! I completely agree and can relate to the feeling of being powerless and confused when I try to do things my way or without putting my trust in Him. I’m sure we can all relate to that.
Martha, I’m praying for you today. May God grant you His peace.
I know there is so much packed in these one and a half chapters, but 3:25-29…Moses reminds the Israelites (and himself) that he asked to please see “the good land.” God did not waiver from the consequence of Moses’s actions that would keep him from setting foot in the Promised Land, BUT God…does allow him to SEE it. To me this is more proof that our Father wants to gives us the things we want, and HIs mercy and compassion will allow us to not suffer totally from what we chose outside of God’s will for us. And Moses, in V29, reminds the people (and me) that he obeyed God. We all have things that we want to run ahead on, I have quite a few right now. But…when we wait upon the Lord, faith rises and giants fall.
MARTHA HIX: prayers and sister-love to you and your family today.
CEEGEE: I either heard that song or someone has said words similar to me in the past couple of days
Thank you, SRT and sisters for your constant words of hope, love, and faith.
“His Presence and His Protection are with us always” reading this passage this morning reminds me that God can promise a victory, but our hearts are still weak in faith and fear. Lord I pray that your Promises
Ring louder and Your Spirit emboldens me to hear it.
@ Arina As I finished reading your words, I thought of a song that’s been in my head from church. Here are some of the words: One word from You
Things change on Your authority
Your word it’s true
Things change on you authority
The song goes on to say that the fight is not my own and the end is in His hands!
Another part has these verses in question form;
Will heaven not prevail
And strongholds not be moved
Will spirits not be silenced
And cower at His rule
For if my God is for me
Then what have I to fear
And I will not deny Him
The glory that is His
Then the verses are repeated declaring that these things will happen! Except it does not just say that I won’t deny Him but that : For nothing will deny Him
The glory that is His
As you said, we already know the outcome! Nothing can stop God’s plans! So good to dwell on His Sovereignty snd power! Praying for all of you today!
The Lord prepares us for the things He asks us to do and then where we are still lacking because of our frailty or doubt, He makes up with His power, wisdom, and strength. What I often fail to realize is that He has never asked me to do anything for Him in my own strength. It is only when I am doing things my way am I left powerless and confused.
@Kelly yes! “It is only when I am doing things my way (in my own strength) I am left powerless and confused.” I needed to hear this today. Bless you!
VICTORIA E. and others:
CORRECTION TO THE TOBY MAC/SPEAK LIFE QUOTE I POSTED YESTERDAY MORNING:
PRAY
WITHOUT CEASING
BECAUSE SATAN IS
PREYING
WITHOUT CEASING
My apologies to TOBY MAC, SRT, and each of you!!!
Love this quote Ceegee! Thank you for sharing!
Stil a wonderful quote thank you CeeGee!
Martha Hix, praying for you and your family today.
God promised the Israelites that the land would be theirs. He would hand it over to them. They didn’t have to fear. That required trust in God, and a whole lot of hard work. They still had to fight for the land. In the kingdom of Og they even had to capture sixty fortified cities. So often, I am inclined to think that if God promises something, it will fall directly from heaven straight into my hands. This story shows that it requires a lot of hard work, a long battle. I have been slacking in fighting the good fight. But the battle is worth it, because the outcome is already known. God’s promises will be fulfilled.
Good morning, MARTHA HIX! I’m praying for a blessed day ahead for you and your kids…I pray you will feel God holding you up. Although it was a (corrected) typo from CEEGEE, it made me smile as a fortunate error as soon as I saw it…you are indeed HIS, MARTHA ❤️
Welcome IVY! I benefitted from your comment yesterday.