Manna Moments

⏱️3 min read

The God Who Goes Before You

“If you say in your heart, ‘These nations are greater than I; how can I dispossess them?’ 18you are not to be afraid of them; you shall remember well what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt: 19the great trials which your eyes saw and the signs and the wonders, and the mighty hand and the outstretched arm by which the LORD your God brought you out. The LORD your God will do the same to all the peoples of whom you are afraid. 20Indeed, the LORD your God will send the hornet against them, until those who are left and hide themselves from you perish. 21You are not to be terrified of them, because the LORD your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God.” Deuteronomy 7:17-21

What an incredible promise these verses hold. Moses is speaking to the new generation standing on the threshold of the Promised Land. Their parents and grandparents never entered because of unbelief, and now their children are preparing to step into what was forfeited before. Yet the land they are about to inherit is occupied by nations far stronger than they are. Even so, God’s instructions were unmistakably clear: they were not to intermarry with these nations, form alliances with them, or show pity—because compromise would lure them into idolatry.

The previous generation had been enslaved by one oppressive power—Egypt. To strengthen their faith, God displayed miracle after miracle, proving that He alone is God and that no false deity could stand against Him.

Now this younger generation—everyone under twenty except Joshua and Caleb—stands before Moses as he repeats the same words he spoke four decades earlier. But this time, they aren’t confronting a single nation; they’re facing many.

Isn’t that often how God leads us? We move from faith to faith.

“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written: ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’”
Romans 1:17

Two truths rise from this previously mentioned Deuteronomy passage.

First, to face the greater challenges ahead, we must remember how God delivered us before. Revelation 12:11 reminds us that we overcome “by the word of our testimony.” Our history with God fuels our courage for what’s next.

Second, God promises to “send the hornet” to drive out enemies we cannot see—those hidden threats attached to our promise. There are obstacles we don’t even know exist, but God knows exactly where they are and how to remove them.

The promise always comes wrapped with opposition, but none of it is hidden from God. While we may feel the urge to understand and control every detail, He reassures us that He is the one who goes before us. The victories of the last season are meant to anchor our faith for the season ahead.

He is for you. He desires for you to enjoy the goodness of the land He’s leading you into. And He will move ahead of you—driving out every enemy, seen and unseen. Your part is simply to stand firm and move forward in faith.