You’ve been wandering in a wilderness for forty years.   No motorhomes here, you’ve been on foot.   You started out as a child; now you’re fifty years old.  You’ve known nothing but barren land.  Your grandparents died in that wilderness, maybe your parents did too.  You have children and grandchildren.  What kind of life is this for them? You’re tired, you’re weary.  Your leader is an old man now, 120 years they say.   His name is Moses, but for years now you’ve been wondering if he really knows what he’s doing.   He talks of a Promised Land, but you sure haven’t seen it.

Today you see water up ahead, the Jordan River perhaps?   Your hopes begin to rise.  Just across that river, is that the Promised Land?   New worries arise.   You’ve been safe in the wilderness, but this new land must be occupied by another people, strong men, and warriors.  Will they allow you to enter?  Will they defend their land?   After all these years, will you just be slain by this enemy?

Now you’re being called together, Moses is about to speak.   “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”   Deuteronomy 31:6   You’ll need all the courage you can get, but Moses says your God will go with you.   Are you ready?

You and I stand together at the beginning of this new year, 2021.  We’re weary after traveling through 2020.  We’d like to think this new year will be better, but it hasn’t begun too well and we really don’t know what the future holds.  A new vaccine, a new president, can we be hopeful?  

But wait, our God stands before us.  He challenges us to be strong and courageous.  He entreats us to not fear or tremble with fright.  He reassures us that He will be with us to lead and support us, no matter what the future holds.  The message Moses spoke to the Israelites is the same message our God speaks to us.   Are we ready to trust Him?  Are we ready to begin our new year with courage?   Can we cling firmly to that unconditional love and be strong?

Judy