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Starting and Stopping

Words of Faith Final

Starting and Stopping

Words of Faith 6-4-2020

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2020

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

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Numbers 10

    [33] So they set out from the mountain of the Lord and traveled for three days. The ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them during those three days to find them a place to rest. [34] The cloud of the Lord was over them by day when they set out from the camp.

    [35] Whenever the ark set out, Moses said, "Rise up, O Lord! May your enemies be scattered; may your foes flee before you."

    [36] Whenever it came to rest, he said, "Return, O Lord, to the countless thousands of Israel."

 

        The journey toward the Promised Land began with a three-day march.  Eleven months earlier, the people of Israel were a rag-tag group of former slaves, gathered in the desert by the first rush of deliverance.  They were unorganized and unruly.  Now, they were prepared for the march.  They were ready for battle and victory.

        As the people set forth, the Ark of the Covenant would lead the way.  The very covenant of God went before them.  As they set out, Moses gave a powerful word.  It was part battle cry, part blessing, and part order to proceed-- "Rise up, O Lord! May your enemies be scattered; may your foes flee before you."

        It is an interesting phrase of Scripture, by which we might even begin our day!  Rise up, O Lord! May Your enemies be scattered, and may your foes flee before you!  The Lord always goes before us into our day.  He always precedes us into the schedule of the week. 

       What a powerful prayer to invoke, especially in these days of COVID-19 recovery. May the presence of the Lord scatter His enemies and send His foes to flight!

        The ending of the day was also a powerful blessing.  Whenever the Ark came to rest, he said, "Return, O Lord, to the countless thousands of Israel."  Return to us, O Lord.  Be with us through the night.  Return to Your people with a protective watch.

         Sometimes, I wonder if most of our problems stem from the way we start and end our days!  If we begin with a blessing and the powerful Word before the Lord, seeking and invoking His presence against His enemies, how can we go wrong?  And if we end our day seeking the blessings and watch of the Lord over us, how can we help but to have a good night of rest? 

         If you think about it, the alternative is very counterproductive.  If we begin our daily trek with worry and anxiety, trying to control matters and fight enemies in our own strength-- we cannot help but have a lousy day. If we make enemies that are not the enemies of the Lord, we find ourselves in a quandary.  And if we settle into the night with the worries of the last day and the peril of the next day on our minds, how can we possibly find strength and refreshment?  There is a better way.

 

        Rise up, O Lord!  May Your enemies be scattered; may Your foes flee before You.  Go before me into my day.  Fight the battles and win the way that is ahead.  And when this day is done, Return, O Lord, return to Your people.  Return to my family and me. Keep careful watch.  In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2004, 2020

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)       

2820 Business Center Blvd.

Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2010 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.