Seven Lessons We Can Learn From the Israelites and Their Journey Through the WildernessSample

The Keeping Power of God

The Israelites had many battles to fight in the wilderness even before they ever set foot in the Promised Land. But God went before them in every battle and made a way for them. He even routed them around battles that they weren’t ready for. It is pretty comforting to know that God doesn’t lead us into a battle that we can’t win, or, that He hasn’t already won for us. 

God has the power to keep us beyond our own ability to keep ourselves. When we know that God is for us, who can be against us? The Israelites learned how much God was for them and when they would stop, listen and trust, He would show them the way through. God wanted an ongoing relationship with them, to have dialogue with them, not just to tell them what to do. Moses actually had God’s favor and attention and would ask for certain things from God. He even changed God’s mind on several occasions. That is a pretty amazing thing when you think about it. God wants to be our friend! 

God’s keeping power is connected to our trust and relationship with Him. When we can lean into Him in impossible situations and know that He will come through, then He can trust us with bigger things over time. God wanted to entrust the Israelites with the Promised Land, and He even told them that He had gone before them and given it into their hands. All they had to do was show up and take the land. 

However, they ended up sending spies into the land to check it out before entering it. Those who had faith, like Joshua and Caleb, came back and spoke of the size of the produce and the fruitfulness of the land, while those without faith returned fearfully and speaking of the size of the giants in the land. The Israelites ended up having more faith in the power of the giants in the land than the keeping power of God over their lives. Therefore, they were unable to take the land that was promised to them.

Have you experienced God’s keeping power over your life? Have you seen Him go before you and make a way in impossible situations in your life? 

Prayer: God, thank You for Your keeping power over my life. Thank You that I can trust You to go before me and make a way for me in every seemingly impossible circumstance I come up against. Help me to remember to listen to Your words to me and put my trust in You more than in my circumstances. Thank You that You want to be my friend and that there are so many amazing benefits of a relationship with You. Help me not to forgo them out of fear when I can choose faith instead!