Tag: grace

May 29, 2025

Deuteronomy 2:7
For the LORD thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the LORD thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing.

Verse Context

The Book of Deuteronomy is a series of final sermons given by Moses to the people of Israel before they entered the Promised Land. In this particular chapter, Moses is recounting their journey through the wilderness—a 40-year period of wandering brought on by their unbelief and disobedience in Numbers 13–14. Yet despite their failure and delay, God’s faithfulness remained unbroken.

This verse, Deuteronomy 2:7, is spoken in a moment of reflection. The people are now standing near the border of the land God had promised, and Moses reminds them that through every year, every hardship, and every mile of wandering, God never left them. Even when they were disciplined, they were still sustained. Even when they walked through desolate lands, their shoes didn’t wear out (Deuteronomy 29:5), they received manna from heaven (Exodus 16:35), and their needs were met.

Let’s look again at the verse itself:

“For the LORD thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand:” — This is a sweeping statement. Even in the wilderness, even in hardship, God was blessing the daily labor of His people. The Hebrew word for “blessed” (not included here but behind the English text) suggests an ongoing, active favor. It wasn’t random. It was deliberate.

“He knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness:” — This isn’t merely geographical. The word “walking” here conveys the idea of a long, personal journey. God didn’t just chart the map from above—He observed, understood, and walked with them. The “great wilderness” wasn’t an accident; it was a season with divine purpose.

“These forty years the LORD thy God hath been with thee;” — The number forty in Scripture often symbolizes a period of testing, proving, or preparation. These were not wasted years. They were years where God’s presence never departed.

“Thou hast lacked nothing.” — This is a powerful declaration. Though they didn’t have luxury, they had sufficiency. Though they didn’t have cities, they had shelter. Though they didn’t feast, they were fed. What the world may call lack, God calls preparation. And His provision was perfect for what they needed in that season.

What’s especially moving about this verse is that it wasn’t spoken at the end of Israel’s entire story—but at the end of a long, difficult chapter. It was a reminder that even in discipline, even in delay, God was faithful. And if He was faithful then, He will be faithful now.

This is the tone the Holy Spirit wants us to carry as we move into the broader context and application: a pastoral encouragement to those who might still feel like they’re wandering. Because the same God who walked with them through the wilderness, walks with us still.

Broader Context

Deuteronomy is the fifth and final book of the Torah (the Pentateuch), traditionally attributed to Moses as its author. The name “Deuteronomy” means “second law,” not because it contains new commandments, but because it repeats, expounds, and reinforces the law given at Mount Sinai to a new generation of Israelites. The people who stand on the edge of the Promised Land in this book are not the same ones who stood there nearly forty years earlier in the Book of Numbers. The previous generation died in the wilderness due to their unbelief and rebellion (Numbers 14:29–35). Now, this new generation needs to hear the covenant again—fresh, personal, and binding.

Deuteronomy chapter 2 specifically covers a portion of Israel’s wilderness journey, highlighting the sovereign guidance of God as the people traveled through the territories of Edom, Moab, and Ammon. These lands belonged to distant relatives of Israel—descendants of Esau and Lot—and God commanded Israel not to provoke them or take their lands. Instead, He instructed them to buy food and water, as a demonstration of respect for boundaries and obedience to His leadership (Deuteronomy 2:4–6).

It is in this context that verse 7 appears like a quiet oasis of reflection in the middle of a historical retelling. Moses pauses to acknowledge that despite the years of wandering, despite being denied entry into these regions, and despite all the trials they endured, God was present and faithful every step of the way. This isn’t a random verse—it’s a pivot point in the chapter. From here, the narrative shifts from traveling in circles to approaching conquest. It is a reminder that their survival wasn’t accidental—it was sustained by God.

More broadly, within the entire book of Deuteronomy, chapter 2 serves to highlight one of the book’s main themes: God’s covenant faithfulness, even when His people fail. The structure of Deuteronomy is deeply covenantal. Moses, under divine inspiration, is acting like a covenant mediator, reminding the people of the stipulations of God’s law, the historical evidence of God’s faithfulness, and the blessings and curses that will come depending on their obedience (see chapters 27–30).

Deuteronomy emphasizes the importance of memory—remembering what God has done (like sustaining them through the wilderness), so that they won’t forget Him when they enter into prosperity. Moses says in Deuteronomy 8:2:
“And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness…”

In this way, Deuteronomy 2:7 is not just about God’s provision. It is a testimony of continuity: the God who was with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; who delivered them from Egypt with a mighty hand; who sustained them in the desert—He is the same God preparing to lead them into promise.

In the grand scheme of Scripture, Deuteronomy reminds us that God’s covenant is not based on convenience or comfort—it is based on commitment and character. He keeps His word, not because His people are flawless, but because He is faithful. This makes Deuteronomy 2:7 a timeless reminder to every generation: even when we walk through barren places, we are never abandoned. God is working, watching, providing, and shaping us for what comes next.

Application

Appreciating God’s Greatness

Deuteronomy 2:7 is not a verse that glorifies prosperity—it glorifies presence. “The LORD thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing.” What an astonishing testimony—not because they had abundance, but because they had Him. God is not great simply because He gives; He is great because He stays. When the sandals did not wear out and the manna came down day by day, it wasn’t a display of luxury—it was the quiet miracle of sustenance. And it was enough.

God’s greatness is shown not by removing the wilderness, but by walking with us through it. Just as He led Israel by a cloud by day and fire by night, He leads His people still—with gentleness, faithfulness, and purpose—even when we can’t see the path clearly. There is no night too dark for His presence, and no desert too dry for His provision.

For the Believer

Every believer will go through their own wilderness. It may not be sand and stone, but it will be marked by pain, sorrow, loss, or confusion. And in those seasons, it’s natural to ask, “Is God still with me?” The wilderness tests more than your strength—it tests your faith.

The Israelites who wandered for forty years were not all alike. Many, tragically, chose to give up their faith. They believed the giants in the land were bigger than the God who delivered them. And because of that unbelief, they died in the wilderness. But to the ones who held fast—to Joshua, to Caleb, to the faithful remnant—God was everything He promised to be. He was enough. Their feet kept walking. Their needs were met. They lived to see the Promised Land.

The lesson is painfully clear: unbelief leads to death, but faith leads to fulfillment. It does not mean the journey will be without tears. It means that God is not a liar—and when He says He will never leave us, He means it.

So when the pain is so deep that words cannot form…
When cancer steals what medicine cannot restore…
When a child is taken and there are no answers…
When you lose someone you love, and you didn’t get to say what you needed to say…

God has not abandoned you.

The cross is our proof that He never looks away from suffering. Jesus wept at death, groaned at injustice, and carried every grief to Calvary—not so we would never suffer, but so we would never suffer alone.

Hold on, beloved. Hold on when it hurts. Hold on when you don’t understand. Your wilderness is not proof of God’s absence—it is the place where He draws you into deeper dependence and closer intimacy. And like Israel, you will look back one day and say, “He was with me. I lacked nothing.”

Call to Action

If you are a believer walking through that wilderness right now, don’t stop walking. Don’t curse God in the desert. Don’t let the dryness make you forget the Deliverer. Cry if you must. Grieve if you must. But do not let go of your faith. Even if all you can do is whisper, “I believe—help my unbelief,” you are still moving forward.

Surround yourself with those who will remind you of His faithfulness. Stay rooted in the Word. Recall your own Ebenezer stones—moments when you know God provided. And know this: the Promised Land isn’t always found here on earth. For some, the promise is fulfilled in eternity. But it is fulfilled. It is never forgotten.

For the Unbeliever

If you do not yet know Jesus Christ—if faith is something you’ve never embraced, or perhaps something you walked away from—you need to hear this clearly:

You were never meant to walk through this life alone. Your pain, your losses, your guilt—they are not ignored by God. He sees them. But more than that, He sent His Son to walk into your brokenness and offer redemption.

The same God who walked with Israel through their wilderness wants to walk with you. But unlike them, your journey begins at the cross—the place where Jesus bore your sin, your shame, and your sorrow. It is there that the curse is lifted, and the covenant begins.

Will you surrender to Him today? Not because He promises to remove every hardship, but because He promises never to leave you in it alone. Because only through Jesus can you say, even in the desert, “I have lacked nothing.”

Final Encouragement

God never promised that following Him would mean a life without sorrow, but He did promise His presence in every step. Deuteronomy 2:7 reminds us that even after forty years of wandering, struggle, and waiting, God had never let His people go. He walked with them. He provided for them. He blessed the works of their hands. And He never let them lack what they needed to finish the journey.

If you are in a season of pain, confusion, grief, or uncertainty, let this verse be your anchor: “These forty years the LORD thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing.” That same God walks with you today.

Your sorrow is seen. Your waiting is known. And your wilderness is not the end of the story.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,
We thank You for being a God who does not abandon Your children in the wilderness. You are faithful in every season—when the way is clear, and when the way is hard. Thank You for the testimony of Israel, who walked for forty years yet lacked nothing, because You were with them.

For those among us who are hurting—those grieving deep losses, enduring illness, or wandering through confusion—we ask for Your comforting presence to meet them right where they are. Help us to cling to You, even when we cannot see the Promised Land ahead. Strengthen our faith to endure, our hearts to trust, and our eyes to see Your hand in every provision.

Remind us, Lord, that Your presence is our portion, and Your promises are true. Carry us when we cannot walk, and feed us daily with the Bread of Heaven. We trust You. We need You. And we love You.

In Jesus’ name we pray,
Amen.

Closing

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Shalom Shalom.