The American general, John Sedgwick, fighting in their Civil War, famously said “They couldn’t hit an elephant at this distance” – and was promptly killed by a sharpshooter! John Wesley’s last words were “The best of all is, God is with us.” In Deuteronomy 33 we have Moses’ last words before dying aged 120 years old. Among various blessings on the Israelites, Moses says these words to Asher (in v25): “your strength will equal your days” (NIV) or “as your days, so shall your strength be” (ESV).
Asher was one of the 12 tribes of Israel and his name means “happy” (Genesis 30v13). The promised blessing his tribe received from Moses is surely one we can also enjoy today. God promises the exact strength we need for each day and for as long as our days shall last.
The principle of exact or equal strength to our need is particularly important – there will be neither a shortage nor a surplus, but a sufficiency of strength for each day. Spurgeon notes that God’s promise covers our days, not our desires or our fears – and also not our weeks or our months.
We should also remember that God’s promise doesn’t say “as your strength so shall your days be”, as though our days’ experiences and fruitfulness will be wholly limited to our natural strength and ability.
As I look back I can gratefully testify that God has faithfully kept this promise in my life. Whatever our days – and they may actually be very different to what we planned or hoped for – God will grant us the strength equal to what we need.
“In every condition, in sickness, in health,
in poverty’s vale, or abounding in wealth;
at home and abroad, on the land, on the sea,
as thy days may demand shall thy strength ever be.”
Peace and Grace
Paul
Church Crookham Baptist Church – Seeking to know Jesus and to make Him known to others
