We easily believe in the existence of electricity because the lights turn on as soon as we flip the switch. Faith in God can be more difficult. He often answers our prayers long after we have prayed them, sometimes long after we have forgotten that we prayed them. Faith in God becomes easier when we look in the rearview mirror to see and realize all the good that He has done in our lives.
A friend Louis once told me, “I sat next to an eighty-eight-year-old “Angel” on an airplane one time. She gave me this piece of wisdom: ‘God will open many doors for you. When we look back on our life, we will see that if we do our part, God will have done amazing things with it.’”
Moses did amazing things in his life by being open and obedient to God’s call. This was a day by day process. Some days went better than others. But all in all, Moses’ life can only be regarded as a phenomenally successful and faithful service to the Lord.
7 Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eye was undimmed, and his vigor unabated. 8 And the people of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days. Then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.
9 And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him and did as the Lord had commanded Moses. 10 And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, 11 none like him for all the signs and the wonders that the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, 12 and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel. Deuteronomy 34:7-12 (ESV)
A friend recently looked back over her life and realized that despite any mistakes or poor decisions she had made, God had brought her to a good place. The loving hand of God guides us despite our failures, and works through all things to bring us to a good and pleasing land. He is our keeper and our shield in times of crisis and trouble. He will never leave us nor forsake us.
This promise is reflected in the reassuring poem, “Footprints in the Sand” (author unknown):
Lord you said that once I decided to follow You,
We would walk side by side through life;
but when I needed You the most,
I saw only one set of footprints in the sand.
The Lord replied, “I love You and I would never leave You.
During your times of trial and suffering, when you see
only ones set of footprints, it was then that I carried You.”
When we look back over our own lives, we can see the signposts of God’s faithfulness and love. His grace and favor abound, and from our earliest memories, He was there. And He will be there when the number of our days is complete, to bring us along with Him into a heavenly eternity.
Reflection
Can you recall a time when God answered your prayer long after you prayed it?
Father God, open our eyes so that we may be aware of your loving presence that has been there throughout all of our days. Thank you for never leaving us nor forsaking us. We pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Daily Meditations from the Genealogy of Jesus 