It was near the end of Moses’ life. He was to pass his leadership role onto Joshua. The Lord called them both to the tabernacle of meeting. He told Moses that after he died, that the people would forsake Him.

Deuteronomy 31:18 says, “And I will hide My face in that day because of all the evil which they have done, in that they have turned to other gods.” Imagine what might be going through Joshua’s heart as the upcoming leader.

The Lord gave Moses a song which he taught them as a witness against them. Deuteronomy 32:4 says, “He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He.”

Almighty God, the One who led them in the wilderness is our God. Psalm 62:6-7 says, “He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.”

Meditating on Scripture is a great way to get His truth embedded in our hearts. The Strong’s definition for meditates means to reflect; to ponder; to contemplate something as one repeats the words.

In the Hebrew thought, to meditate upon the Scriptures is to quietly repeat them, while utterly abandoning outside distractions. Ah distractions: there is a lure that the enemy of our soul uses to pull us off course.

I love Psalm 119. It is all about His word. In June of 2023 I meditated through the whole psalm. It was a delightful and refreshing experience. Verse 15 says, “I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways.”

Verse 23 says, “Princes also sit and speak against me, but Your servant meditates on Your statutes.” Reviled? Slip right back into meditating.

Verse 27 says, “Make me understand the way of Your precepts; so shall I meditate on Your wonderful works.” Think of just one of His wonderful works, and gratitude will immediately well up in your heart.

Verse 146 says, “My eyes are awake through the night watches, that I may meditate on Your word.”

Deuteronomy 28:1-14 was written about the blessings that will accompany obedience. Verses 15-68 were about the curses that will accompany disobedience. That was 53 verses! Galatians 6:7 says, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”

Note: we sow one kernel of corn and what do we get? Abundant kernels. Mark 4:28 says, “For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head.” We reap far more than we sow. One act of disobedience can multiply exponentially.

Deuteronomy 28 was written to the children of Israel. God’s principle for us is the same. Verse 1 says, “…if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments…” Joshua 1:8 says about His word, “…you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do…”

Diligence is an inner character quality that operates whether we are seen or whether we are not seen. Observing to do are words calling us to diligence.

I often use Ephesians 1:11 as an affirmation to myself when I am praying. It says, “In Him we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.”

God’s purpose will never be thwarted! It was set before the beginning of time. Ephesians 1:4 says that He chose us, “…before the foundation of the world…” Ephesians 2:10 says that we are His workmanship, “…created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

Acts 17: 26 says that He has made man to dwell on all the face of the earth, and “…has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings.” Jeremiah 1:5 says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you…” Psalm 119:73 says, “Your hands have made me and fashioned me…”

Psalm 139:13 says, “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.” God’s intentions for you were established before you were conceived. What He began He will complete.

Here is the definition of infinite from the 1828 Noah Webster’s Dictionary: Without limits; unbounded; boundless; not circumscribed; applied to time, space and qualities. God is infinite in duration, having neither beginning nor end of existence. He is also infinite in presence, or omnipresent, and his perfections are infinite We also speak of infinite space.

Paul instructed his son in the faith ~ remain blameless until the coming of the Lord. 1 Timothy 6:14-15 says, “Which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, to whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be hone and everlasting power. Amen.”

Psalm 145:3 says, “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable.” Romans 11:33 says, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and his ways past finding out.”

David wrote Psalm 8. Verse 4 says, “What is man that You are mindful of him…”

One of my favorite verses is Job 42:2. It was Job’s humble statement after all he had been through in his hard trial. It was a summary from his encounter with the Lord speaking through a whirlwind. 

It says, “I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.” You might refresh yourself with these truths by reading chapters 38-41. 38:2 says, “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?”

Unthwarted means to be unhindered. Let’s consider what it means for Almighty God to be Self Existent. You and I are created, but He is the Creator of all things. Revelation 4:8 recorded the words of the four living creatures as, “…Holy, holy holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

This one is on my refrigerator door. Job 11:7 says, “Can you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?” Unlimited. Unhindered. No barriers. 

Undefeatable. Unconquerable. Unsearchable. He created us in His image, and chose us for intimate communion.

I was reading in Deuteronomy. This caught my attention. In Deuteronomy 8, Moses was charging the children of Israel to carefully observe every one of God’s commandments. He reminded them about the manna. In verse 4 how their garments did not wear out.

Verse 16 says, “Who fed you in the wilderness with manna…that He might humble you and that He might test you, and do you good in the end.” My mind immediately went to James 5:11. It was about Job.

It says, “Indeed you count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.” I encourage you to slowly ‘eat’ this verse like you would a piece of succulent juicy fruit.

Chew it slowly and thoughtfully. Now consider your own trials. God, who created you in His image for relationship, has an end intended. What He allows always has His purpose stamped in it. It is our spiritual signet ring of untold blessings. Haggai 2:23. He intentionally chose us. John 15:16.

If you have ever trimmed a rose bush, you have experienced thorns first hand. Thorn-trials pierce. Psalm 119:67 says, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word.” Verse 104 says, “Through Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.”

James encouraged his readers to embrace their trials. James 1:3 says, “Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” Patience is a fruit of the Spirit. Our trials teach us endurance through leaning on and walking in the power of the Holy Spirit’s. He’s our Controller.

Verse 4 says, “But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” The Lord orchestrates our thorn-trials to vividly point out our lack. God’s word penetrates our heart ~ discerning our thoughts and intentions. 

The things of this world dull our senses, and distort areas of delight. What are you delighting in? Psalm 119:92-93 says, “Unless Your law had been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have given me life.”

There is a poem written by a dear lady who lived with constant physical pain. Through her unrelenting pain, the Lord showed her the purpose of the thorn. Written by Martha Snell Nicholson. 

The Thorn

I stood a *mendicant of God before His royal throne
And begged him for one priceless gift, which I could call my own.
I took the gift from out His hand, but as I would depart
I cried, “But Lord this is a thorn and it has pierced my heart.
This is a strange, a hurtful gift, which Thou hast given me.”
He said, “My child, I give good gifts and gave My best to thee.”
I took it home and though at first the cruel thorn hurt sore,
As long years passed I learned at last to love it more and more.
I learned He never gives a thorn without this added grace,
He takes the thorn to pin aside the veil which hides His face.                            

*mendicant is a beggar

Psalm 119:71 says, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn your statutes.” 

Here is a visual for you. In 2006 I drove my dad to a flea market in another town. We had the car loaded with magnetic gospel signs to give away for free. My dad sat on his walker and handed out gospel tracts.

I stood at the entrance, greeting people and handing them a tract. It was really hot, my back was screaming in pain, and I asked the Lord to help me. He gave me a picture of a box. Written on all four sides, “My Grace Is Sufficient For You.” I saw myself standing in that box. He gave me His grace-strength to endure.

Do you have a thorn in the flesh? Paul grasped what the Lord was saying. His next words can be ours as well. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “…Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” The Greek word here for rest means to spread a tent over to dwell in.

His grace-strength endows us to do what He has called us to do and be.