Lord’s Day, Vol. 9 No. 12

Search You Out a Place

Deuteronomy 1:31, 33. 31 And in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the LORD thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place… 33 Who went in the way before you, to search you out a place to pitch your tents in, in fire by night, to shew you by what way ye should go, and in a cloud by day.

As we contemplate God’s care for us in our lives, it behoves us to give thanks and find assurance to constantly abiding in Him. The imagery of the father’s love and care for his child is illustrated in Deuteronomy 1:31 and our heavenly Father’s meticulous care for our well-being in this earthly sojourn in well demonstrated in Deuteronomy 1:33.

The children of Israel left behind a past of bondage and slavery in Egypt for hundreds of years, en-route from the wilderness to enter the Promised Land. It was their God who heard their cry and delivered them – Exodus 2:23-24 … the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. 24 And God heard their groaning…

When God wants to drill a man,
And thrill a man, And skill a man,
When God wants to mold a man
To play the noblest part;
When He yearns with all His heart.

To create so great and bold a man
That all the world shall be amazed,
Watch His methods, watch His ways!

How He ruthlessly perfects
Whom He royally elects!

How He hammers him and hurts him,
And with mighty blows converts him
Into trial shapes of clay which
Only God understands;
While his tortured heart is crying
And he lifts beseeching hands!

How He bends but never breaks 
When his good He undertakes;
How He uses whom He chooses,
And with every purpose fuses him;
By every act induces him
To try His splendour out—
God knows what He’s about!

[Molding a Man, author unknown]

(1) Have We Not Seen?

In verse 31, the children of Israel are reminded to recall what they have seen in God’s deliverance, how He fought for them.

Deuteronomy 1:30 (KJV) The LORD your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes.

God’s care for us is most comprehensive. We are exhorted to meditate upon God’s unfailing, unceasing and often unfathomable ways, resting assured of His care for us in the midst of our trials – thou hast seen how that the LORD thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place. 

Our Lord Jesus amplified for our understanding His care for us – Luke 12:7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

As such, we are to extol our good God for all His love towards us so that others may be jolted to see and come to Him. This was Israel’s mission and this is also the mission of His church – Luke 12:8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:

(2) Our Daily Consecration

33 Who went in the way before you, to search you out a place to pitch your tents in, in fire by night, to shew you by what way ye should go, and in a cloud by day.

God’s children are reminded to more clearly understand that He plans, guides, leads and directs our daily lives for His glory as we subsist under Him. What a blessed life! Why should we struggle and sometimes even doubt His love and favour for our well-being? Our response ought to be one of continual thanksgiving.

It is indeed important that God’s people take heart and hope in Him, being assured of His love for us, we trust Him even though our wilderness experience exposes us to appreciable dangers. Let us choose to believe Him (v32). He thinks ahead and goes before us to make a way amidst “no way”. As such, let us therefore be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let our requests be made known unto God. (Philippians 4:6)

The promise of God is this – And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7).

While God’s people wait upon Him to renew our strength through prayer and His Word, let us guard our minds continually so that we will not let our faith in Him to slip but hold on to Him steadfastly in our deepest trials  – Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there beany virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8) 

Let us guard our minds and renew our thoughts to rest in our God as He directs us daily to the place of safety to pitch our tents, “in fire by night”, to show us what way we should go, “and in a cloud by day”. Amen.

Yours Lovingly,

Pastor Lek Aik Wee