They Are Stronger Than You

Deuteronomy 7: 1 says, “When the LORD your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you- ² and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally.

Observation: The Lord had promised the Israelites a land of their own. We read a few weeks ago that 12 spies were sent in to scout out the land, finding giants and other people occupying their new home land. 10 of the spies were ready to run home to Egypt, but Joshua and Caleb knew that if God said that we their land, then he would give it to them. What I love about this passage is that the nations living in the promised land were stronger than the Israelites, and it is actually said by God. He says, “I’ll drive them out but you should know they are stronger than you.” I guess he could have not said the part about the nations being stronger than Israel, but he chose to keep it real with them. He goes on to say that HE will deliver them over to Israel and they must totally destroy them.

Application: Do you ever feel like you are being put up against impossible odds? Do you feel like God is playing games with you and there is no way to win? Do you think Israel felt this way? They must have thought that God was messing with their heads, but we must remember that while God has a good sense of humor, he doesn’t play mind games. When we feel that we are up against impossible odds, and the chips are stacked against us, we can remember that when you feel God has spoken, then he must do the heavy lifting. What is God telling you to do today that seems impossible. Where must he work and where must you be obedient?

Prayer: God, show me when things seem impossible but you are telling me you’ll do the work in my midst.