“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8). 40 years earlier, God’s people had been afraid because they left the Lord out of their calculations.
At that time, the Israelites were poised to enter the promised land a short time after being freed from slavery in Egypt. They had sent spies into the new territory, but the majority of the spies returned with a report promoting fear instead of faith.
The people then complained, “Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt” (Numbers 14:3)?
That’s the beginning of the 40 years of Israel wandering in the wilderness, instead of entering the promised land according to God’s plan: the first time. So God put them in a 40-year timeout. That’s a lonely place.
During that time, God was faithful, even when the Israelites weren’t. During that time, he didn’t forsake them or forget about them. In his mercy, he gave his people a second chance. Their children grew up and returned to the entry point of the promised land 40 years later.
Not forsaken. No reason to be afraid. Not alone.
The first and best answer to our fear and loneliness is not getting more friends (on our side) or going to more social events (to numb our anxiety). It is believing that “the Lord himself” is with us anytime we are lonely or afraid. God! Himself!
He has good plans and purposes for you. He “goes before you and will be with you.” Not alone. No reason to be lonely or afraid.
Through the broken relationships, the confusion about where you go from here, the disappointment of detoured dreams, the experience of loss—“the Lord himself goes before you and will be with you.”
And believe this: In his own Son, Jesus Christ, your Lord God went first, went before you, to suffer being forgotten and forsaken, the worst punishment in the world. When on the cross while dying for our sins Jesus cried to his Father, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me” (Mark 15:34)?
Because Jesus was forsaken for you, in your place, your timeout punishment is completely suffered and done. You are with God who would be lonely without you, and never wants you to leave him, so he “goes before you and will be with you” always.
PRAYER: Faithful God, when I am fearful and afraid, I confess that it’s not because of you. It is because I am interpreting my circumstances without you in my calculations. In your mercy, stay near me and go before me. With you, I am never alone. Amen.
PRAY ABOUT THIS: Ask God to help you identify what makes you afraid and lonely. Reflect on that while also meditating on the words of Deuteronomy 31:8, “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
