Deut. 7-9; Mark 15

"Hear, O Israel: Thou art to pass over Jordan this day, to go in to possess the nations that are greater and mightier than thyself, cities that are great and fenced up to heaven..." Deut. 9:1
Pressure does one of two things; either it brings the best out of us or the worst. We either 'react' or we 'respond' in pressurized situations. Now it has been 40 years since Moses first stood before the children of Israel, ready to usher them in to the Promised Land. But, the last time they stood at the brink of this rich inheritance, the pressure was too much for them and they ended up making God mad enough to send them marching through the dessert for 40 years. This 2nd time around, Moses begins to sense the people are again beginning to deal with fear--oh that pressure cooker, it's steamin' up and Moses wants them to face their fears and enter in to this land God has promised--he doesn't want them to miss out in their fear and in their stubbornness. Plus, Moses knows in just a short time, this people that he has led must enter in to this new land without him. So here he stands and says, 'Hey folks...listen to me cause I have a couple of really important things to say before you have to go this alone.' First, understand God is going before you and is with you. "And understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before you." (Deut. 9:3) Then Moses tells them to remember it isn't because of their righteousness-in other words, be humble. "Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God gives thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for you're a stiffnecked people." (Deut. 9:6) Basically, listen people, you do not deserve any of this, you have been stubborn this whole entire time and I have pleaded your case before God and over and over again God has been merciful toward you when He really just wanted to wipe you out. Are you not thrilled to know that Jesus, as Moses was a foreshadow of Christ's coming, stands in the gap before us as well and leads us in to all that has been promised? We need not be afraid to possess the land, only walk in faith and humility. Today, may God fill you with a faith that walks you in to His promises and then may you say, "All the glory belongs to Him alone!"
Be blessed today,

Carol Danna
Next Reading: Deut. 10-12; Mark 16