FOCAL Deuteronomy 33:27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.
Opening Illustration: Napoleon, the Great Emperor of France, was sitting on his horse one day looking at some papers when he dropped the bridle of the horse. The horse, startled, reared up, and if it had continued to do so Napoleon could have been thrown or even killed. A young corporal stepped forward and, risking his life, reached up and grabbed the bridle. Pulling down he calmed the animal. Napoleon saluted the corporal and said, "Thank you, Captain". Without a pause the young man said "Captain of what company, Sire- Napoleon responded, "Captain of My Guards". The young man immediately saluted and walked across the field to the Emperor’s staff, tearing off his corporal stripes as he went. When he stepped in amongst the officers one asked him what was he doing. He said, "I am now Captain of the Guards". Another asked, "By whose order- Unbending the young man said, "By the Emperor’s Order". This is the difference between mental assent and genuine faith. This young man trusted that the Emperor’s word was good, and he obeyed that word without question. He could have - when challenged - allowed fear of the other officers to dictate his actions. Instead he stepped up, following Napoleon’s word, and was blessed because of it.
The greatest leader and prophet - perhaps of all time - is the Prophet Moses. God used Moses to write the first five Books of the Bible. God used Moses to destroy the pagan kingdom of Egypt. He used Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt, and to the very border of the Promised Land. This great man - a man of faith commemorated all throughout the Scripture, and quoted numerous times throughout the New Testament - this great man was about to die. For forty years he labored to bring a hardheaded people from bondage and into the Promised Land. But Moses wasn’t going to go into the Promised Land. He was going to die and be buried by God Himself (see Deuteronomy 34:5-6). Moses didn’t die because of bad health. The Bible says that when he passed into the glory of Heaven that Moses was
Deuteronomy 34:7 (KJV) ... an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.
"His eye was not dimmed, nor his natural force abated". Another version reads "his vitality had not left him". At the ripe old age of 127 Moses was just as spry, just as full of energy as he was at the age of 18. He didn’t die from heart disease - and he didn’t die lonely either. Moses was loved by both God as well as by the Israelites. The Bible says that
Deuteronomy 34:8 (HCSB) The Israelites wept for Moses in the plains of Moab 30 days. ...
Why did this great man Moses die? He died for the same reason that the first Generation of Israel died: because he did not hear and do the Word of God.
Before Moses died he gave a blessing to the Israelites who were going to enter the Promised Land.
A Biblical "Blessing" is not only a prayer that an elder says for those he will leave behind, but it is also contains instruction and wisdom that you need to live by.
As Moses prepared to die he knew that every minute left was precious. What words of wisdom should he leave with all of Israel, words that would help them experience the greater blessing of God?
1. You must obey the Word of the Lord if you want to enter the Promised Land. The door to blessing swings on two hinges called "obedience" and "trust".
FOCAL Deuteronomy 33:27 The eternal God is thy refuge ...
Illustrate: A "refuge" is "a den, a dwelling place, a hiding place". A refuge is a place you go to in times of trial, of attack, and of storm. When I was growing up my next door neighbor had a "bomb shelter" that he stocked with non-perishable food and supplies in the event that America was bombed. We never used it for that purpose, but when tornadoes were in the area Mr. Poole often called us up and invited us to come to the refuge with his family.
You go TO a refuge, a refuge doesn’t chase you. You hide in a refuge, and gather your supplies from the refuge. The refuge doesn’t care how you feel, but is there for you to come to and be blessed - but you MUST come to it. God is our Refuge.
I am told that the human body is composed of around 60-78% water. We need water - in the right amount - to live. If you study the history of Israel you’ll see that Lord used water to test the faithfulness of His people. When Israel first came out of Egypt the Bible says that they first came to the Red Sea. They can’t run any farther! Some six million Israelites - all slaves - were freed from Egyptian bondage by God’s mighty hand. Now they’re stopped at the edge of the Red Sea. The armies of Egypt are marching toward them. Rather than turn to God as their Refuge, trusting Him, Israel cried out in faithlessness, "Moses, why did you bring us here? We’re going to die in this wilderness!" (Exodus 14:12). Moses - faithful Moses - said "be still and see the salvation of the Lord. The Lord shall fight for you, and you shall be quiet!" (Exodus 14:13-14). God parted the waters of the Red Sea, and Israel went between the walls of water, crossing that vast sea with no problem. The army of Egypt, however, bogged down in the muddy bottom of that sea, and were crushed as the two walls of water violently slapped together. God is our Refuge.
In Exodus 15 Israel came to a place called Marah. Here they discovered that the water in this oasis was bitter and undrinkable. Rather than look to the Lord and live by His Word trusting Him they once more began to murmur and complain. Moses went to the Lord in prayer and the Lord showed him a tree that, when cast into the water, made it sweet. God told His people:
Exodus 15:26 (HCSB) ... If you will carefully obey the LORD your God, do what is right in His eyes, pay attention to His commands, and keep all His statutes, I will not inflict any illnesses on you that I inflicted on the Egyptians. For I am Yahweh who heals you. ...
Obey - Do - Pay Attention - Keep: This is what you must do if you want to be blessed by God. God was training Israel, and telling her you are not too big to fail. Do what I say, or what I did to Egypt I will do to you. I AM the I AM. The Eternal God is your Refuge.
Traveling just a little further God revealed twelve wells of water - one for each tribe of Israel. Our God is not only our Refuge - He is generous in His Grace!
Israel didn’t learn. They heard, they drank water, they were warned, but they didn’t learn. In Exodus 17 Israel arrived at a place called Rephidim, which literally means "A place of Refreshment". The only problem was there was no water there. Rather than prayerfully seek God and say, "Lord, You’re our Refuge - show us where the water is", the people once more murmured and cursed the One Who saved them. Moses went to the Lord in prayer, and the Lord told him:
Exodus 17:6 (HCSB) I am going to stand there in front of you on the rock at Horeb; when you hit the rock, water will come out of it and the people will drink. ...
What a beautiful picture of the Crucifixion of Christ! The Lord is going to stand in front of Moses "on the rock" and Moses was to strike the Rock. When he struck the Rock waters of refreshment would pour out! As King David sang unto the Lord:
2 Samuel 22:2-4 (HCSB) The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, 3 my God, my mountain where I seek refuge. My shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold, my refuge, and my Savior, You save me from violence. 4 I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I was saved from my enemies.
And Moses repeated ....
FOCAL Deuteronomy 33:27 The eternal God is thy refuge ...
Over and over again Israel failed to follow the Word of the Lord. Their minds were focused on what they wanted, on what they felt, on what they desired. It was only forty days journey from Egypt to the Jordan River, only forty days from slavery to the Promised Land. Israel got to the edge of the Promised Land and refused to cross over. Fear rather than faith directed them. God told Israel:
Numbers 14:33-34 (HCSB) Your children will be shepherds in the wilderness for 40 years and bear the penalty for your acts of unfaithfulness until all your corpses lie scattered in the wilderness. 34 You will bear the consequences of your sins 40 years based on the number of the 40 days that you scouted the land, a year for each day. You will know My displeasure.
Israel is not too big to fail. Moses, sadly, found out that he himself is not too big to fail. In Numbers chapter 20 the Israelites have gotten on Moses’ last nerve! There’s no water where they stop, so once more these hardheaded people begin to complain. Moses once more goes to God, and the Lord says:
Numbers 20:8 (HCSB) Take the staff and assemble the community. You and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock while they watch, and it will yield its water. ...
Moses was to speak to the Rock, illustrating the point that the Eternal God is thy Refuge. It is God Who provides for His people. But rather than speak to the Rock Moses lost his temper, yelling at the people:
Numbers 20:10 (HCSB) ... Listen, you rebels! Must we bring water out of this rock for you? ...
and with that he violated the Word of God. Moses struck the Rock twice rather than speak to it. And God said to Moses, "Moses, you didn’t trust Me and do what I asked. You’ll not enter into the Promised Land."
Dear Friends, the door to blessing can only be opened by both hearing and doing the Word of God. God does not want your mental assent. He wants you to do what He says regardless as to how you feel.
2. Trust God with everything you have. Only God can hold you up. Our focal text states:
FOCAL Deuteronomy 33:27 .. The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms
Underneath are the everlasting arms.
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Why "underneath"? Because this is where we need the arms. The devil attacks from underneath, from the pit. Sometimes we allow him to trip us up. But if we fall down, praise God, Our Father will lift us up!
If Moses was the Greatest Prophet Who ever lived, the Shepherd David was the great mortal King who ever lived. David did great things for his nation because he declared ...
2 Samuel 22:33-34 God is my strength and power: and He maketh my way perfect. {34} He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet: and setteth me upon my high places.
When a person follows God and obeys His Word, that person will always be blessed. Life is tough, and bad things happen to good people. It’s not fair, but that’s life! As long as we keep our eyes on the Lord and His Word and do as He says we will be blessed.
Illustrate: One of my favorite characters in the Bible is a man called Joseph. Joseph was much loved by his daddy Jacob. In fact, Jacob spoiled Joseph. Back in those days you didn’t have a Target© or a Wal-Mart© store. Clothing was hand made, and fabrics were dyed not with Rit© Dye but by crushing flowers and minerals and shelled animals. A "coat of many colors" took a lot of time to make, and was worth a lot of money. When Jacob gave Joseph a "coat of many colors" (Genesis 37:23) that was the last straw for his brothers. They stripped Joseph of his prize and threw him in a pit, and even plotted to kill him - "but underneath are the everlasting arms". Joseph trusted the Lord. Though he was sold into slavery - yet another pit in life - "underneath are the everlasting arms". When he got to Egypt he was sold to a governor by the name of Potiphar, who made Joseph his butler. But Joseph was a handsome man, and Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39:7) tried to seduce him. A man of lesser faith would have justified what he was asked to do. "Well, I need to make my employer happy - and after all, the customer’s always right!". No, he didn’t do that. Joseph rejected Potiphar’s wife saying:
Genesis 39:9 (HCSB) ... how could I do such a great evil and sin against God? "
Oh how we love to justify sin, and oh what a danger that is. Joseph said "No, I’ll not do it". How was he rewarded for his faithfulness? He was cast into prison for 13 years, unjustly accused of rape by the very woman who tried to entice him. But Beloved, "underneath are the everlasting arms". God eventually raised Joseph up to where he was second only in the Kingdom of Egypt to Pharaoh himself.
Then one day it happen. Famine hit the land, but because God lifted up Joseph there was food in Egypt. Guess who comes looking for a handout? The very sorry brothers that cast him into the pit so many years before. Here was his opportunity. Toss these boys into the same dungeon they put him in for over 13 years. Take vengeance, though God has said:
Deuteronomy 32:35 (HCSB) Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay. ...
What did Joseph do? The Bible tells us that when his brothers realized who they stood before they trembled, believing that he would bring the full weight of Egypt against them. Instead Joseph said:
Genesis 50:19-20 ... Fear not: for am I in the place of God? {20} But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
Here is the man that Satan cannot pull down, for he ever rests in the everlasting arms of God. If you can rest assured in the Biblical truth that God loves you, that He is our
"Refuge and Strength, a very present Help in times of trouble" (Psalm 46:1)
there is nothing that Satan can do to destroy your life.
We must look at every trial through the lens of God’s Word. When trial comes remind yourselves "underneath are the everlasting arms". Read His Word and put it into action in your life. Let the Word of God be your guide and your worldview.
The great British Pastor C.H. Spurgeon said:
"You cannot go so low but that God’s arms of love are lower still. You get poorer and poorer; but "underneath are the everlasting arms. You get older and feebler; your ears are failing, your eyes are growing dim; but "underneath are the everlasting arms." By-and-by, unless the Lord speedily returns, you will have to die, and you will come down very low then; but still it will be true "underneath are the everlasting arms."
Trust God when the pits of life come. Underneath are the everlasting arms. The Bible says:
Psalms 37:23-24 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. {24} Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
If you have been saved by faith in Jesus the Lord upholds you by His hand. Do not struggle against Him. When tried, rest in Him. If you are resting in the Lord you are resting in the same power that upholds all the universe. You are resting in the hand that made the Sun and the moon and the stars. You are resting in the Power that holds the atom together. You are resting in the everlasting arms of eternal God.
3. Love God, Love One Another. Even if you don’t have a Bible handy, you can do these two things. You must do these two things. As Israel is getting ready to go into the Promised Land Moses tells them:
FOCAL Deuteronomy 33:27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and He shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.
that God will do His part but His Israel must do her part. God will thrust out the enemy, but Israel has to love the Lord enough to do what He says. They also need to work together to reach blessing. There is no blessing without love. We must love God, and we must love one another. God will thrust out the enemy - the forces of Satan - but we must stand firmly together against them.
Love God. Do His Word. Love one another. Live His Word. Jesus said:
John 13:34-35 (KJV) A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
What did Jesus give to us when He gave us His love? He loved us when we hated Him. He allowed Himself to be tortured and to die on that Cross when He was no more than a curse on our lips. Jesus did this because - without Him and His sacrifice - we were at war with the Eternal God. Over top of us were arms - waiting to punish our sin - waiting to cast us down to the pit of hell. But Jesus stretched out His arms - and we put the nails in His hands. Nailed to the Cross my sin and yours were poured out on Him and judged. The Lord’s Table reminds us that
As Jesus loved us, we are to love one another.
Love God. Love one another. May God thrust out the enemy - Satan and unbelief - before you. Destroy Him and it by living the Word of God. Underneath are the everlasting arms!
