There you saw how the LORD your God carried you,
as a father carries his son,
all the way you went until you reached this place.
Deuteronomy 1:31 (NIV)
When I was in the store the other day, I was startled to see a man carrying his daughter. She wasn’t a baby or even a toddler. Judging by her size, I guessed she was about eight or nine years old. The dad whispered something to her, and she let out a giggle. Wasn’t she a bit old to be carried around like that?
As I turned down the next aisle, a woman strolled past, pushing an empty wheelchair. It became obvious to me that the wheelchair belonged to that little girl whose father preferred to hold his child in his arms rather than push her around the store.
In the same way, God carried the Israelites through the desert. He could have freed them from Egypt then left them to their own devices. He could have waved them off or sent an army of angels to take care of their needs while He attended to bigger and better matters. But He didn’t. His love wouldn’t let Him shrug them off even when they acted like petulant children. Instead, He reached down, lifted them into His loving arms, and carried them close to His heart. Not because of any merit on their part but because of His great compassion.
If you are a child of God, then this promise is also for you. You are never too old or too big for God to carry you. He is a personal God, your Abba, your gentle Father. He sees your frailty, your need, your infirmity. Instead of sending someone to tend to your needs, He gives you Himself. From the time you surrender your life to Christ to the day you reach the Promised Land, God will carry you as a loving father carries the child he loves. Gently, tenderly, lovingly.
Thought: “Snuggle in God’s arms. When you are hurting, when you feel lonely, left out, let Him cradle you, comfort you, reassure you of His all-sufficient power and love.” – Kay Arthur