“He (God) found him (Jacob) in a desert land and in the wasteland, a howling wilderness; He encircled him, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye… So the Lord alone led him….” Deuteronomy 32:10, 12

The Way God Works

We could all testify to how God “found us” and what He did with us once we were found. Each story would differ wildly from the rest. He came looking for us in all sorts of places, as if we were the one lost lamb, hiding from the obvious as a child hides behind the curtains, feet sticking out in plain sight at the bottom. He set our lives in particular circumstances, families, schools, and neighborhoods. Some of us were deprived, some privileged. Some of us were healthy, some sick. Some of us were lonely, some surrounded by friends. 

In spite of our different life stories, we would have to agree on a few things. One day, maybe even today, we will look back and see that He did for us what He did for Jacob in the verse above—and He will do the same in the lives of our loved ones. 

First, He finds us, no matter where we are, even if it is a howling, dangerous wilderness that no one else would willingly enter. Mind you, there was never a time we were actually “lost” to Him, but there was a moment when He revealed Himself to us.

Then, He encircles us, surrounds us—with His love, His arms, His angels, and His promises. The encircling arms of God are mighty enough to act on our behalf, big enough to accept all who come, and strong enough to hold us no matter what comes.

Next, He instructs us. He gave us His Word, and wise teachers, and sends His Holy Spirit to dwell within us to (among other things) interpret and remind us of truth.

Then, He keeps us as the apple or pupil of His eye. He is faithfully devoted to us, protective of us, keeping us in His line of vision at all times.

And finally, He leads us. We don’t have to make our own way; we have a guide, a leader that navigates our lives and shines a light on the right way.

No matter what tools, disciplines, promises, and methods He needs to use to make each of us into the image of His Son, He always does for us what He did for Jacob in today’s passage.

“Father, Your way is tender, Your promises are faithful, Your ability is beyond our imagining. We can trust You with everything. Thank You. Amen.”