A Land the Lord Cares For

READ: DEUTERONOMY 11:10-25; 31:8

What kinds of changes have happened in your life so far? Maybe they’ve been small changes, like transitioning to a different school building when you reached a certain grade. Maybe you’ve gone through large changes, like your family moving or someone close to you getting a divorce.

In the Bible, the people of Israel went through a lot of changes. They moved to Egypt because of a famine, and later a ruthless Pharoah made them slaves. After generations of slavery in Egypt, God delivered His people and led them to the Promised Land. This was a wonderful thing, but it was also a big change for the Israelites. In Deuteronomy 11, Moses told them that this land was going to be nothing like they knew. The terrain would be very different from Egypt’s, and their farming methods would have to change.

Similarly, there are often lots of unknowns in our own lives. Even though some of the changes we experience are smaller, and we still have familiar things around us, many of the things we once knew have to change, kind of like the Israelites’ farming methods.

This can be hard sometimes, but look at what Moses says next: “It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end” (Deuteronomy 11:12). That’s awesome! God had already been taking care of this land for His people, and He would continue to be there with them.

When changes happen in our lives, God already knows what they are, and He has been preparing for us. And no matter what kind of change it is—no matter how small or how big—God will continue to be with us. In every change you face, you can rest knowing that God loves you and He will never leave you. • Kimberly Brokish

• What kinds of changes have happened in your life? Can you think of a time God cared for your needs (physical, emotional, relational, or spiritual) in the midst of a change? Consider taking a moment to thank Him for this.

• In times of change, do you have any favorite Bible verses that remind you of God’s love? For example, take a look at Deuteronomy 31:8. If you want to dig deeper, check out how Jesus is “God with us” (Matthew 1:23) and has promised never to leave us (Matthew 28:20).

“It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end.” Deuteronomy 11:12 (NIV)