“The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” Deuteronomy 33:27 (NIV2011)
What is your refuge? Where do you go for safety, to find rest and peace? In his final song, Moses would teach a new generation of Israelites where their true refuge could be found. Moses’ song declares that the eternal God is our refuge! Is He your refuge? Your shelter? Your hiding place? Or, do you seek refuge in your own strength, brilliance, money, cause, or career? All of those things are temporary and can be taken away. The only refuge that is eternal is God. He never changes! In Psalm 73, the Psalmist declared,
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26 (NIV2011)
He knew that, when all else failed, God would never fail! Our only true refuge is the eternal God, who always holds us and catches us when the shaky supports we’ve leaned on collapse and we fall.
“… and underneath are the everlasting arms.”
When I think of this verse, I replay that YouTube video on great “Dad saves” where fathers are constantly catching their children at the last minute before they fall off the swing or the bike is about to hit the tree. The most recent save was when a baseball bat flew out of the batter’s hands and was about to strike a young boy’s face, and his dad spontaneously reached his arm out to save his young son from certain harm. Just like those loving fathers, our Heavenly Father protects us from dangers we may not even be aware of with His everlasting arms. When we realize this great fact, we can rest in security, knowing that nothing can destroy us when we take refuge in Him. Not only can we rest in that security, but we can take greater risks of faith as we lean on His strength and reckon with His resources. To some, living for God may seem like the riskier path to take in this world but, in reality, it is those without God that are on the most shaky ground. One mistake could wipe them out. But, when the eternal God is our refuge and His everlasting arms are under us, we can dare to be bold! Moses sang that song to a generation of Israelites that would need to repeat those lyrics as they went into the Promised Land their own fathers had forfeited to take out of fear and unbelief.
What is it you’ve hesitated to be obedient in doing that God has prompted you to do? What step of faith is God leading you to take, but fear is holding you back? It could be something as simple as baptism, or giving, or even sharing your faith with others. Maybe, God is calling you into a new career or a move. Perhaps, He is telling you to persevere and stay where you are for now. Whatever He may be prompting your heart to do and wherever He may be leading you to go, you can have the confidence of knowing that you are secure when the eternal God is your refuge.
