Alan Fong
3 min read
Alan Fong
3 min read
Alan Fong
3 min read
The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them. ~Deuteronomy 33:27
When we say, “You can bank on this,” we mean that something is steadfastly reliable. We mean that it is trustworthy and dependable. It has the idea of a faithful guarantee. As Israel was preparing to enter into the Promised Land to claim their inheritance, God gave them a powerful promise that they could bank on.
“The eternal God is thy refuge.” We are the people of God! We are His purchased possession. We belong to Him, and He belongs to us. It is a relationship where He keeps us from falling. Unlike the idols of men’s imaginations, God is eternal. He always was, always is, and always will be. We will spend eternity with Him. He gives us hope beyond the grave. He is the eternal God!
He is our refuge. God is our shelter at all times. A refuge has the idea of safekeeping, shelter, and safety. With God as our refuge, we have protection. “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” With God as our refuge, we have His peace. He gives us peace in spite of the tribulations that we face. He gives us peace when we pour out our hearts before Him. With God as our refuge, He gives us predictability. Everything always turns out well for those who put their trust in Him. No matter how close the enemy is, they are separated from us by the Lord.
“Underneath are the everlasting arms.” This speaks of God’s strength. No enemy or force is a match for God. He holds us safely in His arms. He undergirds us and keeps us from the enemy’s forces. His strength never diminishes. His strength never disappears. His strength is dependable. His strength is always durable. His strength is always distinguishable. It is a strength that cannot be called into question. It is a strength that time cannot affect. His everlasting arms speak of strength that will get us through our toughest situations.
“He shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.” In our standing with Him, we are the apple of His eye. All enemies are thrust, that is, kicked out, from trying to topple us. We will behold with our very eyes that the battle is always the Lord’s. Israel saw this repeatedly as they went through the wilderness. The kings of Canaan, Moab, Ammon, and Edom saw repeated defeats at the hand of God. Going forward from there, Joshua, the Judges, and the good kings of Judah saw their enemies thrust out from before them.
But there is one more thought: there should be a godly stirring! The very thought that we can bank on God for power and protection should stir us to live in Him. We must walk by faith and not by sight. We must have faith in God! We must obey God rather than man. Yes, the situation might look intimidating and even futile, but "the eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” We can bank on the fact that God can do anything but fail!
Bible Reading Schedule: Revelation 17-19
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