Daily Devotion, January 19, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Deuteronomy 34:1-7.

We are focusing this week on those who persevered in living for God and telling others about God. To understand the word, “perseverance”, my fifth grade teacher told us the story of Glenn Cunningham, who overcame his severe leg injuries at age 7 to become the fastest mile runner in 1934 and held that record for three years.

Moses persevered throughout a long life of struggles and with the people of God, but he followed God’s guidance to the very end. God spared Moses’ life from the beginning and he was nurtured by his Israelite family, even though he grew up in the pharaoh’s palace.

After killing a brutal Egyptian taskmaster, Moses fled to Midian, where God called him to deliver the Israelite people from Egypt. With the help of his brother Aaron, Moses pleaded with the pharaoh for the Israelites’ release. After ten plagues, the pharaoh let them go. Moses led them across the Red Sea. God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses to give to the Israelites so that they could understand the covenant God was making with them. Then Moses continued to lead his people through 40 years of wandering in the wilderness until they reached the edge of Canaan.

It was never easy leading the Israelite people. They disobeyed, grumbled and complained---a lot. Moses, too, had many obstacles to overcome. He had killed someone. He had to overcome his own speaking difficulties, and he had to deal with the Israelites’ worship of a golden calf.

The people continued to complain. Numbers 20 tells the story of the people demanding water in the wilderness. God asks Moses to speak to the rock and instead Moses strikes the rock. This prevents Moses and Aaron from ever arriving in the Promised Land. But here in Deuteronomy 34, God allows Moses to see the Promised Land. Moses was faithful unto God and God’s calling throughout his lifetime. With God’s strength, Moses truly persevered.

Personal Worship Option:

Mile runner Glenn Cunningham’s, favorite verse was Isaiah 40:31: “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” What verses help you persevere through life’s difficulties to remain faithful unto God? Thanks be to God who is forever faithful unto us. Amen.