Daily Verse: Deuteronomy 1:43-44

So I told you, but you would not listen. You rebelled against the Lord’s command and in your arrogance you marched up into the hill country. The Amorites who lived in those hills came out against you; they chased you like a swarm of bees and beat you down from Seir all the way to Hormah.

  

Moses was the middle man between God and the Israelite people. He relayed instructions that were received directly from the mouth of God. In verse 42, Moses relays one of those directions given by the Lord…”But the Lord said to me, “Tell them, ‘Do not go up and fight, because I will not be with you. You will be defeated by your enemies.’” God told the people not to engage in battle with the Amorite people. But the Israelites were arrogant and proud, confident that they knew best. They didn’t need God’s involvement in the matter as they were sure they would find success. So God let them have it…and they received what they deserved for ignoring the Lord…a humbling, dragged through the mud, top shelf beating by the Amorites. Because they ignored Him, God showed them defeat. Even though they tried to do things on their own, God still reigned in the end…He still determined the outcome. In our lives today, it is easy to think that we can do it on our own and that we somehow operate in this “silo” apart from God’s influence. But what we come to learn…perhaps after defeats similar to the one the Israelites experienced…is that we can’t operate apart from God. He ultimately determines the course and plan for our lives…He holds the controls and calls the shots. We may think that we have decades left in this life…but God can pull the plug in the next few minutes if he wishes. We may think we have a solid, predictable career path in place…but God could snatch up that surefire job in an instant and lead us to another. Bottom line: We are not in control, God is. And thankfully…oh so thankfully, God is the one calling the shots. For this is not a situation of controlling doom and gloom, but rather one of great rejoicing and thanksgiving. God wants nothing but the absolute BEST for us in this life. He wants us to be joyful, content, satisfied, and at peace. And he is the only One capable of truly putting us on the best path in life…on our own, we are destined to get it all wrong. So today, may we welcome the Lord into our lives with open arms, trusting he knows best, and following his direction with a joyful and disciplined heart! To God be the glory!