I'm sitting in our home group Bible study the other night when Deuteronomy 7 is read.
There were so many promises tucked inside that chapter, but strangely the words that jumped out were not the apparent feel good words we all quote.
Let me explain:
God promises "when", and not "if". Moses said, "WHEN the Lord brings you in, and WHEN the Lord delivers your enemy into your hand". He promises His sovereignty, and your enemy's defeat.
He will execute His love and His care of you, and He promises to be in the midst of every battle.
He is great and awesome, and He is your Deliverer!
Promises. Covenant words. Quote-worthy words to hold on to.
And I can even handle the words that tell me He won't be the only one who is active, because Moses commands the people of God not to favor the ways of their enemy.
He reminds us not to connect with them in any way, but to tear down, smash and burn all that they worship.
"Don't pity them or serve what they serve, because it's really just a trap (and behind every strong snare is a master trapper).
And don't be afraid of them, but remember what the Lord has done for you in the past (even if the first thing on the list is "great trials"...eye roll usually follows).
He will take care of you with signs, wonders, a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.
He won't fail, because He is no failure".
Again, the doing leads me back to the quote-worthy words; promises from a faithful God.
But His methods? Well, that's the hard part.
Because you and I will want a swift deliverance, a quick rescue, a visible Father.
But what we will see instead are wild beasts that never seem to go away, and what began as small will quickly become something plural.
And this, my fellow-walker, is the little by little.
This is the walk of a disciple.
And, much to our chagrin, this is still within the plan of the Sovereign God we serve.
If it was quick, we might miss the lesson, and we might miss the wonder in the journey.
His love will still be there as we fight the enemy who just won't seem to go away (the one who often sticks closer than a brother!).
And there will be victories and tiny party hats, but just know that it will all come in small steps.
Little by little we will learn to trust Him, and the steps will become enduring miles, because He has set His love on us.
He has chosen us.
He is a Covenant-keeping God, and He will keep His promises.
He WILL bring us into a fruitful place,...
He will just do it little by little.
