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Daily Devotional

Trusting God in Challenging Times

August 31, 2020 - 12:00 am

This Devotional's Hebrew Word


(Where do you work?)

They will lay siege to all the cities throughout your land until the high fortified walls in which you trust fall down. They will besiege all the cities throughout the land the LORD your God is giving you. — Deuteronomy 28:52

Each week in synagogue or at home, Jews read through the Torah from Genesis to Deuteronomy. The Torah portion for this week is Ki Tavo, which means “when you have entered,” from Deuteronomy 26:1–29:8.

Over the past few months, the coronavirus has upended our familiar lives and changed the way we think about life. One thing that has become increasingly clear is that there is no one that we can rely upon to get us through this. The health professionals, politicians, and finance experts are all doing their best to guide us. However, no one knows exactly what to do or what the future holds.

I cannot even imagine going through this crisis without knowing that there is a God. We are so blessed to know that when there is no person to turn to, we have God to turn to. Perhaps, one blessing that we can take out of this challenging time is stronger faith and a closer relationship with our Creator.

In this week’s Torah portion where we read about the curses that will come upon the children of Israel if they disobey God, we read this dire warning, “They will lay siege to all the cities throughout your land until the high fortified walls in which you trust fall down.” Should the Israelites become disobedient, they would be attacked and thrown out of their land. The pivotal moment would come when the “walls in which you trust fall down.”

Jeremiah, the prophet who warned of the exile about to overtake the disobedient Israelites said, “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh… But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him” (Jeremiah 17:5-7). Those who trust in man or anything physical are doomed. They will inevitably be let down and defeated. However, one who trusts in the LORD will be secure forever.

Sometimes in life, God makes our walls fall down — He causes everything we rely upon to fall apart. Because it is only when we lose hope in all of our trusted physical defences, that we truly learn to trust in God. Today, we can choose to trust God fully and stay in peace, knowing that He is the source of our security and holds us in the palm of His hands.

Your turn: “But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him” (Jeremiah 17: 7). Say this verse aloud, feel it, and let it guide you today.

     

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