The Weekly Word - A Devotion for the Week of March 30
This week we are departing from our Lenten theme of repentance to offer a Word of hope and a vision of peace and abundance in these uncertain times.
The Scripture for today is from Deuteronomy 8:7-10
For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land of flowing streams and pools of water, with fountains and springs that gush out in the valleys and the hills. It is a land of wheat and barley; of grapevines, fig trees, and pomegranates; of olive oil and honey. It is a land where food is plentiful and nothing is lacking. It is a land where iron is as common as stone, and copper is abundant in the hills. When you have eaten your fill, be sure to praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.
Moses spoke these words to the Israelites as they stood on the cusp of the Promised Land after 40 long years of wilderness wandering. During their arduous travels, God’s people had questioned His motives and doubted His goodness. Blinded by their suffering, they had often lost sight of God’s promise. And yet, as we read in these verses, we know His promise held true.
Like the Israelites, we, too, are walking through a wilderness right now as we contend with the impact of COVID-19. As we grapple with the challenges of social distancing, remote work and online education, as we fear for our livelihoods and for the vulnerability of our loved ones, let us rest in God’s promise to the Israelites, for it is His promise to us too. God provides, even when we struggle to see His provision in the moment.
Look at the verb tense in verse 7: “The Lord your God is bringing you into a good land…” – not will bring, but is bringing. Moses reminds us that God is always on the move, sustaining us, guiding us and comforting us – bringing us into a good land. The results of God’s promise may not yet be evident, but we trust His promise is true.
Gracious God, thank You for offering me this beautiful vision of hope today. I trust in faith that You are still providing for me and sustaining me, even when I can’t yet see how it will all turn out. Amen.