Moses stood on the border of the Promised Land and encouraged the children of Israel, “The Lord, He it is who goes before you; He will be with you, He will not fail you, nor forsake you: do not fear, neither be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 31:8).
The Lord Himself spoke to Joshua after Moses’ death, saying, “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you: I will not fail you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage: for to this people you shall divide the land for an inheritance, which I swore an oath to their fathers to give them” (Joshua 1:5,6).
Nathan the prophet passed the promise along to King David, who then bequeathed it to his son Solomon, as he prepared to take the throne and build the Temple of the Lord. David said… “Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the Lord God, even my God, will be with you. He will not fail you, nor forsake you, while you finish all the work for the service of the House of the Lord” (1 Chronicles 28:20).
Through countless kings, wars, captivity, waywardness, and trials, the promise carried on until they returned from captivity and God called Nehemiah to repair the wall. When the work was done, Nehemiah left them with this prayer… “Nevertheless, because of Your great mercies’ sake, You did not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for You are a gracious and merciful God” (Nehemiah 9:31).
Through the end of the Old Testament and into the New, the promise carried, to be cemented in the love of Christ at the Cross, sealed by His Spirit upon all who turn from sin to trust Him, and inscribed in a New Covenant ratified in blood. We could not have any Word made surer… “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.”
How wonderfully safe in His care we are - today and forever.
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